Indian Knoll Elementary School News

It’s less than two weeks until the first day of school for CCSD on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021!  Please check out the July edition of the CCSD Connections newsletter at https://bit.ly/CCSDconnections, which includes important back-to-school info and a message from the Superintendent.  Don’t forget to visit the Back-to-School Gateway at https://bit.ly/CCSDb2s when it opens Monday, July 26, as we need the parents of all students – both in-person and Digital Learning – to update emergency contacts and provide other important “first day forms” information. Thank you to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia! #CCSDfam

On behalf of the Superintendent, please review the following updates about CCSD’s Digital Learning program for the 2021-22 School Year. 

We have outlined the highlights of the program and back-to-school preparations below.  We encourage you to review the CCSD Digital Learning Models for SY2021-22 Guidebook, which explains the learning models and expectations in greater detail, and is posted online at https://bit.ly/CCSDdlguide21.

CCSD's Transportation Department spends the summer break getting its fleet of big yellow buses inspected and ready for another 4 million miles on Cherokee County roads. In the days before the start of the school year, CCSD’s school buses can be spotted out on the county's roads and highways, running their routes.  One practice run with their bus is required, but many drivers practice more times in their own vehicles.

Cherokee County School District’s School Nutrition department is beginning the new school year with announcements including that it will continue to provide breakfasts and lunches to all students at no cost to them … for the entire 2021-22 school year!

The Cherokee County School District is seeking school bus drivers!  These positions offer excellent benefits (full-time benefits for part-time work, with at least four hours of pay per day guaranteed), a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team.  A Georgia Class B CDL Driver’s License with School Bus & Passenger endorsements is required; CCSD provides drivers with specialized training.  Job details are posted at https://bit.ly/CCSDbusdriver.  Check out the video at http://bit.ly/CCSDbusvideo to learn more about a day in the life of a CCSD school bus driver!  Join the #CCSDfam & apply now by clicking Jobs@CCSD at www.CherokeeK12.net.  Questions? Please contact CCSD Recruitment Coordinator Lindsay Bowley at Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256.

The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting on Thursday, July 15, 2021 took the following action:

• Approved the monthly personnel report, which included the appointment of Adam Johnson, a 13-year CCSD teacher who has taught and coached track at Cherokee High School, as a new assistant principal at Woodstock High School;

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that, based on the Governor’s decision through Executive Order to end the Public Health State of Emergency on June 30, 2021, and the significant improvement of the state of public health, we are returning to pre-pandemic school operations for the 2021-22 school year, which begins Aug. 2.  More back-to-school information will be shared with our families in the July edition of the CCSD Connections newsletter on July 22.

If your children are 0-18 years old, we are pleased to offer summer to-go meal service for them! 

Meal pick up will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, July 19, at Cherokee High School's Cherokee North building, Creekview High School and Etowah High School's Etowah East building.

If your children are 0-18 years old, we are pleased to offer summer to-go meal service for them! 

Meal pick up will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, July 12, at Cherokee High School's Cherokee North building, Creekview High School and Etowah High School's Etowah East building.

Volunteers make a positive difference in our schools, which is why we spotlight them here ... congratulations to Indian Knoll ES 2021 Volunteer of the Year: Nikki Chambley! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

Cherokee County School District students earned Regional and State honors through the annual Georgia Student Technology Competition!
 
The statewide competition offers students in Grades 3-12 the opportunity to showcase their skills through 16 categories and vie for honors at Regional and State fairs.  
 

If your children are 0-18 years old, we are pleased to offer summer to-go meal service for them! 

Meal pick up will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 28, at Cherokee High School's Cherokee North building, Creekview High School and Etowah High School's Etowah East building.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 17, 2021 unanimously approved its budget for next school year, which is balanced without a tax rate increase and includes hiring 125 new teachers above and beyond enrollment growth to help bridge any pandemic-related learning opportunity losses.  

If your children are 0-18 years old, we are pleased to offer summer to-go meal service for them! 

Meal pick up will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 21, at Cherokee High School's Cherokee North building, Creekview High School and Etowah High School's Etowah East building.

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating four of its outstanding Special Education team members!

Four members of the Department of Special Education received its top annual honors during the annual Special Education Staff of the Year Awards ceremony.  They are: CCSD Occupational Therapist/Physical Therapist of the Year Amy Peart; CCSD School Psychologist of the Year Laura Killen; CCSD Special Education Facilitator of the Year Kortney Dempsey; and CCSD Speech Language Pathologist of the Year Stacy Irwin.

If your children are 0-18 years old, we are pleased to offer summer to-go meal service for them! 

Meal pick up will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 14, at Cherokee High School's Cherokee North building, Creekview High School and Etowah High School's Etowah East building.

The Cherokee County School District recently celebrated the winners of its second annual Minecraft Student Build Challenge!

The competition, organized by CCSD’s Office of Technology and Information Services, challenged students in all grades to use Redstone in Minecraft: Education Edition to build a device that could make the world a better place.

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

The Cherokee County School District School Nutrition program has earned top honors from the Georgia Department of Education.

The program earned the State’s 2020 Vision District award in recognition of its outstanding efforts to use Georgia grown foods on school cafeteria menus.  CCSD has received numerous accolades for its Farm to School initiative and collaboration with community partners including the Cherokee County Farm Bureau.

If your children are 0-18 years old, we are pleased to offer summer to-go meal service for them! 

Meal pick up will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 7, at Cherokee High School's Cherokee North building, Creekview High School and Etowah High School's Etowah East building.

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating its retiring educators and support staff!

The majority of the retirees noted below are ending their careers at the close of this school year; some retired earlier in the year based on their retirement eligibility date.

“Congratulations to each of our retirees for dedicating your career to serving our community’s children,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “Whether you served in a classroom or behind the scenes, you made a positive difference in the lives of our students.  I know our entire community has benefitted from your exemplary service and joins me in wishing you the best as you enjoy your hard-earned retirement.”

Dear CCSD Family,

The message below is to our graduating Class of 2021 seniors.  I am sharing it with all of you, as they are the future of our community.  You can see each of their names posted on our website at http://bit.ly/CCSDclassof2021.

Dear Class of 2021,

The finish line is in sight.

CCSD is seeking skilled Maintenance/Facility Technicians to keep our schools and offices running safely and smoothly.  More information about this opportunity is at http://bit.ly/CCSDfactech.  CCSD offers employees excellent compensation and benefits, a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team.  Join the #CCSDfam & apply now by clicking Jobs@CCSD at www.CherokeeK12.net  Questions about this opportunity?  Contact Rocky Simpson via email at rocky.simpson@cherokeek12.net or by phone at 770.721.8452.

CCSD is offering a special to-go free meal service for all students on the last day of school! 

Meal pick up will be Friday, May 28, in a designated area of your child’s school (car rider or bus lane) at a designated time.  Here are the locations and times for this distribution: http://bit.ly/CCSDmeals528.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday reviewed the recommended budget for next school year, which includes hiring more teachers to lower class size while not raising the school property tax millage rate, and adopted a resolution that prohibits implementing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and The 1619 Project.  

Cherokee County School District staff and PTA units and leaders have been honored with top awards by the Cherokee County Council PTA!

Congratulations to the winners and best wishes as they advance to regional and State opportunities for recognition.

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Golden Apple Award presented to top teachers this week by the Gamma Eta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International!  

Twelve CCSD schools were invited to recognize an honoree this year, and they are: Katelyn Sugar of Arnold Mill ES, Beth Smith of Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, Laura Wagner of Bascomb ES, Liane Moler of E.T. Booth MS, Heather Barton of Etowah HS, Lacy Savage of Free Home ES, Morgann Anderson of Indian Knoll ES, Meredith Rocker of Johnston ES, Janet Marotte of Knox ES STEM Academy,  Kristin Covington of Mountain Road ES, Stephanie Collett of R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy, Rachel LaChine of Sequoyah HS.

The Cherokee County School District celebrated National School Nurse Appreciation Day with the presentation of its inaugural Nurse of the Year Awards!

The top school nurse selected for each Innovation Zone (a high school and its feeder schools) was surprised with award presentations on Monday and today.  They now advance to a CCSD Nurse of the Year Award program, with the winner to be selected by a panel of nursing professionals and retired educators and announced at a new professional development event for school nurses this summer.  

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

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating its Yes I Can Award winners.

The Yes I Can Awards celebrate the achievements of children and youth with exceptionalities.  The awards encourage students to seek their highest potential, and increase public awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of those with disabilities. 

Please see the message below from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower:

Every teacher, whether in his second year or in her 30th year, has them saved.

These treasures take many forms: the handmade cards with imperfect spelling and perfect love, the well-worn first “best teacher” mug turned pens holder and the shiny new one filled with coffee, the dried store-bought carnation and the dried playground dandelion.

The Cherokee County School District is seeking School Nutrition Workers for numerous schools for this school year and next school year.  This position offer competitive compensation and outstanding benefits, a schedule that follows the school calendar, and wonderful work environments and caring teams.  Apply now by clicking Jobs@CCSD at www.CherokeeK12.net and selecting any of the School Nutrition Worker listings at various schools.  For more information, please contact Cassandra Higgins at cassandra.higgins@cherokeek12.net and 770.721.8419. #CCSDfam

The Cherokee County School District saluted educators Thursday night at the long-awaited 2021 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration.
 
The annual banquet to recognize all of CCSD’s school Teachers of the Year and to announce the overall winner is usually held in the fall.  This year’s program was delayed due to the pandemic, and additional safety measures were enacted for Thursday night including limiting guests.

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.  

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.

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 is offering a special to-go free meal service for all students for Spring Break!

Meal pick up will be Friday, April 2, in a designated area of your child’s school (car rider or bus lane) at a designated time.  Location and Pick up Time by School. (https://bit.ly/CCSDmealpickup)

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.

On behalf of the Superintendent, all after-school and evening extra-curricular activities for today, March 25, 2021, are cancelled due to severe weather.  Elementary School After School Program will be offered as usual.  

On behalf of the Superintendent, as announced last week (http://bit.ly/ccsdbbb321), in addition to traditional in-person learning for the 2021-22 School Year, CCSD will continue to offer a Digital Learning option for students in Grades K-12 for the first semester (Aug. 2-Dec. 17).  Any further extension of Digital Learning will be considered in the fall. 

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! 

The Cherokee County School District Special Education Department will present its annual Agency Information Fair through a virtual event on March 31.

Parents and teachers are invited to participate to learn more about services, resources and organizations that support students with special needs.

Please join us at Nutrition 140 this weekend as we raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in honor of Aden Martinez, 3rd grade student at IKES! All tips and proceeds will be donated to the foundation. 

Event is March 27th 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. 

See you there! 

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.

On behalf of the Superintendent, as shared with the School Board at its meeting tonight, he has announced plans for Digital Learning for next school year; high school prom; and graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2021.

On behalf of the Superintendent, due to the threat of severe weather, all CCSD schools will be closed for in-person learning on Thursday, March 18, 2021.  Teachers and staff will not report to schools.  Teachers will post assignments for students in Canvas.  If your child does not have access to technology or should your household be without power due to the severe weather, makeup opportunities will be extended. A decision has not yet been made about extra-curricular activities scheduled for after school and evening.

Our next Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the media center from March 26 through April 2! The book fair offers high quality books that kids want to read, all at affordable prices.

Your child’s teacher will let you know which day your child will be visiting the book fair. Students may pay for books with cash or a check. You can also set up eWallet for safe and secure payment! Just visit our book fair homepage at https://tinyurl.com/ikesspring2021 to get started.

Please contact our media specialist Jennifer Lewis at Jennifer.lewis@cherokeek12.net with any questions you have.

Thank you for supporting the book fair and encouraging a lifelong love of reading!

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.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) has announced the week of March 15-19, 2021 as “School Board Member Appreciation Week.” 

CCSD joins a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members.  As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds.  As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.

The Cherokee County School District is successfully vaccinating employees at a districtwide event this week in collaboration with the Department of Public Health.

The two-day event began Thursday and continues today at Canton First Baptist, with a goal of vaccinating 2,850 full-time and part-time CCSD employees.  Additional employees, including substitute teachers, will be vaccinated by DPH by special priority appointments next week.

The Cherokee County School District today surprised the overall winners of its third annual Support Staff Employees of the Year Awards!

The awards program honors one Support Staff Employee of the Year from each of CCSD’s schools, centers and central office divisions, and one overall CCSD winner is selected for each of three categories: Elementary School; Middle School/High School/Centers; Central Office.  

The Cherokee County School District is seeking an outstanding nutritionist/dietitian to serve as a School Nutrition Facilitator.  This position offer excellent compensation and benefits, a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team. 

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised we have received official confirmation that the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered by the Department of Public Health (DPH) to our employees during our mass vaccination event this Thursday and Friday (March 11-12).  This means that we will NOT need to close in-person learning on April 15 and 16 for a second round of vaccinations.  

On behalf of the Superintendent, all CCSD schools will be closed for in-person learning on Thursday, March 11, and Friday, March 12, 2021 in order to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to CCSD employees.  We understand this closing may create hardships, but it is the best way for our organization, in partnership with the Department of Public Health (DPH), to quickly vaccinate all interested CCSD employees as soon possible.  

The March 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.  #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

The Cherokee County School District is seeking school bus drivers for next school year!  These positions offer excellent benefits (full-time benefits for part-time work, with at least four hours of pay per day guaranteed), a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team.

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 thanking the 2020 Support Staff Employee of the Year for Indian Knoll Elementary School: Jennifer Severson! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

The Cherokee County School District is seeking RNs or LPNs to join its team of School Nurses.  These positions offer excellent benefits, a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team.  Details are posted at http://bit.ly/CCSDnurses21  Join the #CCSDfam & apply now by clicking Jobs@CCSD at www.CherokeeK12.net  Sign up today for the CCSD Virtual Job Fair on March 6 to learn more and talk with a CCSD School Nurse!  Info at https://bit.ly/CCSDjobs21  

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, approved several appointments for CCSD school leadership roles for next school year.

As part of the monthly personnel report, the School Board accepted the retirements of many longtime educators throughout CCSD including Bascomb Elementary School Principal Kathleen Chandler.  

Four Cherokee County School District teachers learned today that they will advance as finalists for the CCSD Teacher of the Year award!  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower visited their classrooms to make the surprise announcement that they are the top four teachers of all CCSD schools’ and centers’ Teachers of the Year.

CCSD is offering a special to-go free meal service for all students for the February Winter Break!

Meal pick up will be Friday, Feb. 12, in a designated area of your child’s school (car rider or bus lane) at a designated time.  Location and Pick up Time by School. (https://bit.ly/CCSDmealpickup)

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.  

The February 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! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

The Cherokee County School District today surprised the winners of its poster and video contests to seek students’ help in encouraging mask usage among their classmates.

CCSD students in grades 6-12 were invited to create and enter a short public service announcement-style video that educates students about the benefits of mask usage by students at school, and students in grades K-12 were invited to design and enter a poster promoting the same message.  The winning videos and posters will be used in CCSD schools and on CCSD websites and social media to promote student mask usage.

Sign up now! The Cherokee County School District’s annual Job Fair will be a virtual event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 6. The event will focus on hiring teachers, bus drivers, school nurses, School Nutrition workers and more for the 2021-22 school year. Visit http://bit.ly/CCSDjobfair21 to sign up to participate. #CCSDfam

Please be advised that due to a technical error the weekly grade and attendance reports emailed to parents this morning are inaccurate. We are working to address the issue and will send new reports in as timely a manner as possible.
 

The window for school choice reassignments  for 2021-22 within the Cherokee County School District is February 1-March 1. This includes applications for CCSD STEM and Fine Arts Academies. 

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that all CCSD schools will reopen for in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 25.  

Thank you for your patience during our temporary closure as we worked to return staffing levels to our operational needs.  Thank you to our teachers and support staff for their outstanding work to continue providing engaging instruction and services to students.

The Cherokee County School District's Special Education department will offer a virtual program for parents of Special Education students.

The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting Thursday night heard updates on State education funding and the state of public health.  

The January 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 about the continued temporary closure of schools due to COVID-19. 

CCSD is providing a temporary pay incentive to substitutes. The incentive will begin immediately and expire May 15, 2021.

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that all CCSD schools will remain temporarily closed for in-person learning through Friday, Jan. 22, with a tentative reopening date of Monday, Jan. 25.  This difficult decision was made based on continuing high levels of staff absences and substitute teacher shortages due to positive cases and quarantines, as well as the current level of community spread and its resulting impact on emergency medical services and hospitals.  

Save the Date! The Cherokee County School District’s annual Job Fair will be a virtual event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 6. The event will focus on hiring teachers, bus drivers, school nurses and School Nutrition workers for the 2021-22 school year. We will post instructions at www.cherokeek12.net and on CCSD social media the first week of February explaining how you can sign up to participate. #CCSDfam

The Cherokee County School District is seeking a dynamic Cyber Security teacher to help start its first-ever Cyber Security high school career program for next school year!  This position offers a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits, a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team. Join the #CCSDfam & apply now: http://bit.ly/CCSDcyber  Questions? Contact CCSD Recruiter Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256.

On behalf of the Superintendent, this message is to advise you of changes to schoolwide communications.

All CCSD schools now are using the Canvas system for sending all schoolwide emails.  This is separate from the School Messenger system for CCSD emergency notifications.  In order to receive emails from your school, such as Principal newsletters and other important news specific to your child’s school, please be sure to set up a Canvas parent account if you have not already done so.  If you already are receiving emails through Canvas from your child’s teacher (the email will have the Canvas icon at the bottom), then you have set up a parent account and don’t need to take additional steps.  If you need to set up a Canvas parent account, please follow the instructions at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/canvas.  

Dear CCSD Families,

When we welcomed our students back for in-person learning on Wednesday to fulfill our commitment of providing the best education possible to our students, we did so with the knowledge of the state of public health in our community.

Cases are higher in our community, our state and our nation than ever before.  Health experts are voicing concerns that a new COVID-19 strain now circulating in our nation will spread faster among everyone, including school-age children.  Our hospitals are full.

We appreciate partners' support of our schools, which is why we celebrate their service here every week -- congratulations to Indian Knoll Elementary School 2020 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

The Registration Gateway system is experiencing technical issues; we have contacted the vendor to request assistance.  If you need immediate help with enrollment, please contact the registrar for your child's school by email.   The directory of registrars is online here; email addresses use the format first.name@cherokeek12.net  Please do not call today (Jan. 5) as registrars are working from home due to the districtwide Digital Learning Day. 

If your student uses i-Ready for assignments, there is a new link and log-in process for students utilizing the resource from home.  Please see specific instructions at

https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/iready-login-student

Dear CCSD Families, 
 
Four days ago, we welcomed a new year and new hopes for an end to COVID-19.  The hope I feel is very real, but it is not yet reality, which is why we all must continue to take COVID-19’s impact on our community, including our schools, very seriously.  We know that cases are rising, and we are closely monitoring cases among our students and staff.

Please share our new job listing for a School Psychologist -- this position offers a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits, a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team. Join the #CCSDfam & apply now: https://cherokeega.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=167 Questions? Contact CCSD Recruiter Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256.

The Cherokee County School District is sponsoring two contests to seek students’ help in encouraging mask usage among their classmates.

CCSD students in grades 6-12 are invited to create and enter a short public service announcement-style video that educates students about the benefits of mask usage by students at school, and students in grades K-12 are invited to design and enter a poster promoting the same message.  Entries for both contests are due Jan. 19 and will be judged for message, quality and creativity. 

CCSD REMINDER:

EARLY DISMISSAL ON FRIDAY, DEC. 18: All in-person CCSD high school and middle school students will be dismissed early on Friday, Dec. 18 (the early dismissal schedule is online at https://bit.ly/early1218). Elementary school After School Program is cancelled.

CCSD is offering a special to-go free meal service for all students for the December Holiday Break!

Meal pick up will be from 1-2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at four locations only – Cherokee High, Creekview High, Etowah High and River Ridge High – and you will choose the location on your form.  You do not have to live in that school’s attendance area to pick up there.

The Cherokee County School Board has earned top state honors for exemplary leadership and innovation practices.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) has awarded the Cherokee County School Board its 2020 Exemplary School Board designation.  The statewide recognition program honors school boards that consistently meet standards of excellence and model best practices; it is a three-tiered program, and Exemplary is the highest level of achievement.  In order to earn this status, school boards must demonstrate commitment to

The Cherokee County School Board during its meeting Thursday approved the purchase of land for the potential site of a new Cherokee High School.

The 88-acre site is north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and adjacent to the current Teasley MS campus in Canton’s Riverstone area, and the land cost is $87,500 per acre to be paid for with current Ed SPLOST funds. 

DIGITAL LEARNING DAY ON TUESDAY, JAN. 5: Due to the planned use of our schools that serve as polling sites for the General Election runoff vote, we will not hold in-person school on Tuesday, Jan. 5, which was to be the first day back at school after the Winter Break. Instead, in-person students will participate in a Digital Learning Day and complete their lessons at home online using Canvas and Microsoft Teams; teachers and staff will be working at their schools. This change will not impact students already enrolled in Digital Learning.

The December 2020 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 about changes to COVID-19 precautionary quarantine protocols and two changes to the school calendar.  Thank you to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia, a CCSD Partner.  #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

Today is National Educational Support Professionals Day... thank you to all CCSD employees who support our teachers and students by keeping our schools safe, healthy and operating smoothly. #CCSDfam #CCSDunited #EducationalSupportProfessionalsDay

On behalf of the Superintendent, this message is to update you to the fact that the number of COVID-19 cases in both Cherokee County and across the country is on the rise, and what happens outside of our schools impacts what happens inside our schools and our ability to keep schools open.  

CCSD is offering a special to-go free meal service for all students for Thanksgiving Break!

Meal pick up will be from 4-5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at two locations only – Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy in Canton and Carmel ES in Woodstock – and you will choose the location on your form.  You do not have to live in that school’s attendance area to pick up there.

CCSD School Nutrition will offer a special meal pick-up on Friday, Nov. 20, for free meals for the week of Thanksgiving Break!  

This service, funded by USDA grants, is open to all CCSD students and to any child age 0-18.  

The Cherokee County School District’s graduation rate has hit a new high, topping 90% for the first time in recent years with 90.3% of the Class of 2020 earning a diploma within four years of entering high school.  

The CCSD graduation rate is an increase from 86.9% achieved by the Class of 2019, according to a new report from the Georgia Department of Education released today.  All six CCSD high schools reported higher grad rates for the Class of 2020, with Creekview HS reporting the top rate of 96.2%.

Please share this information … we’re seeking more school bus drivers to join our CCSD family!  To apply: Click Jobs@CCSD at www.CherokeeK12.net.  For more information, please contact CCSD Recruitment Coordinator Lindsay Bowley at Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256. #CCSDfam

On behalf of the Superintendent, Digital Learning will be extended as a learning choice for the second semester (Jan. 5 – May 28, 2021) for all elementary school students and Special Education preschool and PreK students currently enrolled in the program.  Parents of students currently enrolled in Digital Learning for these grades will receive a separate email later today with a link to the online declaration form that is due by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2020.  
 
 

Indian Knoll Beta Club Food Drive is November 9-13

All donations earn points for your house. 

What is Child Find?
The purpose of Child Find is to identify, locate, and evaluate children and youth, who are suspected of having or have a diagnosed disability or developmental delay, in order to provide free appropriate Special Education services.  The Cherokee County School District serves children from three years through 21 years of age.

The November 2020 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.

On behalf of the Superintendent, this is to advise that Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 extra-curricular practices, games and events can occur as planned.  We know you join us in our concern for CCSD families who experienced storm damage as well as our CCSD students who have not had access to free school meals during our closure.  We maintain a list of resources for food and general assistance on our website bulletin board at http://bit.ly/CCSDbboard.  Please contact these agencies if you need help, or if you can support them through financial donations and/or by volunteering.

With multiple school power outages still ongoing likely through tomorrow morning and over 20 roads still impassible throughout the County, Cherokee County School District will be closed Friday, October 30. This will not be a Digital Learning Day due to the remaining widespread power outages.  A decision to allow Friday extracurricular events will be made mid-day based upon local conditions. 

On behalf of the Superintendent of Schools, this is to announce that due to the National Weather Service Tropical Storm Warning and likely associated hazardous wind and flooding conditions during the early morning hours tomorrow, Cherokee County School District will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020.  This will not be a Digital Learning Day due to the likely event of expected widespread power outages throughout the morning.  A decision to allow Thursday extracurricular events will be made mid-day based upon local conditions. #SafeCherokee

CCSD recognized its school bus drivers on Tuesday morning with a drive-through breakfast and gifts.  CCSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower visited with drivers at two bus maintenance facilities, passing out Chick-fil-A biscuits and goody bags from sponsors. 

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday heard an update on potential State funding concerns for next school year.
 
During its pre-meeting work session, School Board members began the planning work for its annual Legislative Partnership Priorities, a list of top issues it would like to see addressed by Cherokee County’s State legislators during the General Assembly Session.  The report typically is shared by the School Board with the Delegation at a meeting in early December prior to the legislative session’s start in January.

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised of several important decisions in regard to CCSD school operations:

• HYBRID MODEL: The three high schools currently operating on a hybrid model – Creekview, Etowah and Woodstock High Schools – all will resume traditional in-person instruction (five days a week) beginning Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 (Monday, Oct. 12, is a scheduled school holiday for all students/professional development day for teachers and staff).  This decision does not affect students currently enrolled in Digital Learning. 

The October 2020 edition of the CCSD Connections monthly parent e-newsletter is now online at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/newsletter and contains important information including updates on school operations for this month.  Thanks to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia, a CCSD Partner! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

IKES Firebirds,

The Indian Knoll Elementary School PTA fundraiser starts today, and we need your help. Our goal is to raise $15,000.00 (profit) which will be used for school improvements, teacher and staff hospitality, and items that will positively impact your student's education at IKES! The fundraiser will run from today, September 29th through Tuesday, October 13th. Why not get that holiday shopping started now?

It's as simple as 1, 2, 3!

1. Register TONIGHT at www.ShopFund.com
2. Share custom support links with family & friends via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email, Text and more.
3. Student Goal: 5 Online Supporters.

REGISTER-SHARE-WIN: Sharing gets you tickets for chances to win over $100,000 in instant prizes.

IMPORTANT: Please turn in your student's Register.Share.Win. ticket tomorrow. Attached to the front of your envelope you'll see the ticket with instructions! The first Oinkster prize will only be given to those who register and share with 10 people AND turn in their ticket on Wednesday!  

Volunteers make a positive difference in our schools, which is why we spotlight one here every week ... congratulations to Indian Knoll Elementary School 2020 Volunteer of the Year Jeanette Smith! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

A Cherokee County School District employee on Friday will donate a kidney to a Cherokee High School student who she had never met until learning of her urgent need.

If your student(s) is/are enrolled in Digital Learning or hybrid learning, we are pleased to offer to-go meal service for them! 

Meal pick up will be Monday, Sept. 28, in a designated area of your child’s school (car rider or bus lane) at a designated time.  Please contact your school nutrition manager for specific locations and serving times: CCSD School Nutrition Manager Contact Information

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating outstanding school community partners through its Seventh Annual CCSD Partner of the Year awards!

Through the annual program, every CCSD school selects a Partner of the Year to honor.  From that pool of outstanding partners, a committee of retired educators and community leaders selects an overall CCSD 2020 Partner of the Year.

Thanks to our FABLOUS IKES PTA for putting this amazing video together. We miss having our grandparents with us for our traditional breakfast, but we appreciate the support you always show our Firebirds. Please forward the link if your child's grandparent(s) if they haven’t seen the tribute!  https://youtu.be/jZcyP2KvnmI

The Cherokee County School Board during its meeting Thursday heard operations updates and talked about construction of a replacement Cherokee High School as a possible project to be funded in the next Education SPLOST renewal.

Dear #CCSDfam,

We’re nearing the end of our seventh week of school with Fall Break ahead of us.  I hope this holiday allows our students and staff and all of their families time to rest, relax and recharge.

Whether you’re taking a vacation out of town or a staycation in Cherokee County, please keep your health and the health of your entire community in mind.

CCSD School Nutrition will not offer to-go-meal service on Monday, Sept. 21, as CCSD schools will be closed for Fall Break.  You will receive an email the morning of Thursday, Sept. 24, with an online order form that is due by 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, for to-go meal pick-up on Monday, Sept. 28.  If you need food assistance during Fall Break, please contact one of the community food banks serving Cherokee County, which we have listed on our website at http://bit.ly/ccsdhealthinfo  Reminder: All CCSD families who think they may qualify for free or reduced-price meals are asked to please complete the online application at www.lunchapplication.com.  This approval will be needed to receive free and reduced-price meals after the temporary USDA program providing free meals to all students ends on Dec. 31.

The Cherokee County School District has surprised the overall winners of its second annual Support Staff Employees of the Year Awards!

The awards program honors one Support Staff Employee of the Year from each of CCSD’s schools, centers and central office divisions, and one overall CCSD winner is selected for each of three categories: Elementary School; Middle School/High School/Centers; Central Office.  These overall winners are selected by a committee of retired educators and community leaders.  

Seventeen Cherokee County School District students placed in the 2019-20 Georgia PTA Reflections fine arts contest!

The annual contest gives students in all grades and abilities the opportunity to create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts for the opportunity to earn recognition at the School, District, State and National levels.  This year's theme was “Look Within.”

What's cooking, #CCSDfam? 

If you're a CCSD parent who loves to cook, please enter our second annual CCSD School Nutrition Parent Recipe Contest ... you could win a $100 Visa gift card and see your side-dish recipe featured on CCSD school lunch menus in October! 

UPDATE 10/14/2020: More great news for CCSD families ... the USDA funding for free school meals for all students has been extended through the end of the school year!

Cherokee County School District families are receiving a new form of economic stimulus: free school meals for all students!

CCSD School Nutrition beginning Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 will not charge any fees to any students for breakfasts or lunches through Dec. 31, 2020 (the end date is dependent on available funding), based on extended meal service flexibilities from the USDA.  There are no forms to complete or income eligibility requirements for this federally funded temporary relief program.  

Start the new school year with some great new books! Indian Knoll is hosting an online Scholastic Book Fair for our families from September 4 through 17! All purchases will be sent directly to your home with free shipping on all book orders of $25. And our school receives a portion of all purchases made during the fair! Just go to the link below and click on Shop Now to begin!

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/indianknollelementaryschool1

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that he has decided to extend Digital Learning for elementary school students for the second nine-week grading period, which ends Dec. 18, 2020.

Parents/guardians of elementary school students currently enrolled in Digital Learning (kindergarten through fifth grade; and Special Education preschool and PreK) must complete a declaration form by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11; a link to the form will be emailed to them separately this afternoon.  

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating outstanding school volunteers through its Seventh Annual CCSD Volunteer of the Year awards!

Through the annual program, every CCSD school selects a Volunteer of the Year to honor.  From that pool of exceptional school volunteers, a committee made up of retired educators and community leaders selects an overall CCSD 2020 Volunteer of the Year.  This year’s winner is Brian Tomalavage, the Free Home Elementary School Volunteer of the Year!

The September 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 as well as news and updates. Thank you to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

The Cherokee County Educational Foundation helped kick off the new school year in CCSD this month by presenting teachers and support staff with $56,000 in grants!

The nonprofit organization, since its 2012 formation to raise funds for CCSD teachers, programs and schools, has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to support teaching and learning.
The Foundation’s Classroom Impact Grants program offer competitive grants for projects costing up to $2,500, with a focus on new ideas for instruction that could be replicated throughout CCSD classrooms.

We need dedicated substitute teachers to keep our in-person classrooms open as we continue providing this essential service to the children of our community.  Please sign up today so we can invite you to a training session.  Apply online at https://bit.ly/JobsCCSD  #CCSDfam  #CCSDunited

Microsoft Education has recognized 42 Cherokee County School District teachers and staff as instructional technology experts!

They have been named to the 2020-2021 class of Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts.  The technology company selects educators, support staff and school leaders who show exceptional understanding of how technology can improve learning for this recognition, which includes access to new tools and an exclusive online network for sharing best practices.

Many of our students rely upon and look forward to our cafeteria’s homemade breakfasts and lunches and award-winning Farm to School recipes.  Our School Nutrition workers and lunchroom monitors are the everyday heroes who make this essential service happen!  Please consider signing up to serve as a substitute worker.  More information and the applications (look for Future Openings forms for each of these jobs) are online at https://bit.ly/JobsCCSD #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

CCSD’s school nurses are superheroes, and these dedicated essential workers need back-up as we continue to offer in-person school. 

Cherokee County School District teachers and staff were welcomed to work for the sixth day of school with sweet surprises from a new organization dedicated to encouraging them and lifting the entire community’s spirits.

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
 

The following message is from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower:

Today is the fifth day of school – and, this year, that is an amazing milestone.

As I said when we began the week, we would not have been able to reopen schools in person, simultaneously launch a new Digital Learning program and start the school year on time without your patience, grace, flexibility and support.

The following message is from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower:

Today we began the first day of a school year unlike any ever before – and we succeeded because of you.

CCSD Back-to-School Updates & Reminders: 

The CCSD Back to School Gateway at https://bit.ly/CCSDb2s now is open!  Whether your CCSD student is returning in-person or learning online, we need you to please complete the Gateway “first day forms” as soon as possible.  The Gateway includes updating emergency contacts, confirming transportation plans, signing up for free and reduced price lunch, and much more.  To use the Gateway, you will need your child’s Student ID (the code they use in the cafeteria and to log in to computers) and GTID (the longer code on your child’s report card); if you don’t have these, your child’s school can provide them to you.

Congratulations to Indian Knoll's Heather Towery! She is our July Employee of the Month. 

CCSD is ready for the new school year with 500 temporary substitute teachers signed up to serve ... but we've heard from more who want to join us! 

We're opening up three training sessions next month - on Aug. 7, 10 and 13 - for community members who want to work as substitute teachers.  Spaces are limited, so sign up now at https://bit.ly/JobsCCSD

#CCSDunited

It’s one week until the first day of school for CCSD on Aug. 3, 2020!  Please check out the July edition of the CCSD Connections newsletter at https://bit.ly/CCSDconnections, which includes important back-to-school info and a message from the Superintendent.  Don’t forget to visit the Back-to-School Gateway at https://bit.ly/CCSDb2s when it opens July 29, as we need the parents of all students – both in-person and Digital Learning – to update emergency contacts and provide other important “first day forms” information. #CCSDunited
 

On behalf of the Superintendent, please see the following announcements:

• The Cherokee County School Board at its meeting tonight made no changes to the current CCSD Reopening of School Plan at https://bit.ly/CCSDplan20.  The School Board unanimously approved CCSD’s annual budget, which includes significant investments in our reopening plan including more than $4 Million in additional health and safety measures.  You can read the Board Business Briefs recap at https://bit.ly/CCSDbbb71620.    

The Cherokee County School Board at its regular meeting tonight unanimously approved the Cherokee County School District’s annual budget, which, despite a $25 Million State education funding cut, was balanced without the need for furlough days or a millage rate increase.

The Cherokee County School District has launched a Fact vs. Fiction webpage!  

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that we have made updates to the CCSD Reopening of School FAQs which is posted online at https://bit.ly/CCSDfaqs20.

CCSD's Summer Feeding Program will add weekend meals to the food distributions for the final two dates (July 13 and July 20), increasing the meals per child from 5 days of breakfast and lunch to 7 days.  Cherokee HS site will also have 200 boxes of fresh produce to give away the next two pickup days, one box per family.  The produce boxes are made possible through USDA's Farmers to Families program.  Meal distribution sites, times and guidelines are on the website here.

Dear #CCSDfam,
 
I begin this message by expressing gratitude: thank you to the School Board for its unanimous approval tonight of our CCSD Reopening of School Plan, thank you to the citizens who attended to share their opinions and thank you to those who, instead of attending, emailed or called to share their thoughts.  You can read a recap of tonight’s meeting online at https://bit.ly/CCSDbbb7920. 

The Cherokee County School Board at its called meeting tonight unanimously approved the Superintendent’s recommended CCSD Reopening of School Plan, which calls for both the return to schools for traditional learning and the launch of an improved digital learning choice.

CCSD's online registration system for new student enrollment is back online after maintenance earlier this week. If you click the link and still see the maintenance screen, please clear the cache on your computer and refresh your browser, the window should open. 

https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/divisions-school-operations-school-enrollment

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that Cherokee County School Board Chair Kyla Cromer has called for a School Board meeting to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2020 to consider approval of the Superintendent’s recommended CCSD Reopening of School Plan. 

Dear CCSD Parents/Guardians: 

This is just a reminder that, if you have not already, please complete the CCSD return-to-school questionnaire by 5 p.m. Monday, June 29.  The message we emailed to you on Monday, including a link to the questionnaire, is posted at https://bit.ly/CCSD62220.  You need your child’s student ID and a unique code to complete it; these were sent to you on Monday in a separate email from “no.reply@cherokee.k12.ga.us”

Dear #CCSDfam 

We are sending the message below to all of our high school students, many of whom have reached out to us with concerns about the issues of diversity, equity and tolerance.  We’re sharing this message with not only the parents of our high school students, but also the parents of all of our students, so you will be aware of its contents and can consider having a conversation at home about this topic.  We are very aware of where our role ends and where yours begins, and that we must work together to help our students succeed.  

The Cherokee County School Board at its work session and regular meeting this evening reviewed the proposed CCSD budget for next school year, which balances a State funding shortfall without the need for furlough days or a tax rate increase, and heard an update on school reopening plans.

Our teachers are amazing, which is why we share the story of a school’s Teacher of the Year every week ... please help us celebrate 2020 Indian Knoll Elementary School Teacher of the Year Darlene Palmisiano!

If you have not completed your 2020 U.S. Census Survey, there is still time!  95% of households receive their census invitation in the mail (these were sent in March, with reminders sent in April).  As of June 14, 62% of Cherokee County residents have responded (compared to 57% in Georgia and 61% across the U.S.).  Every household has the option of responding online, by mail or by phone.  Households that have not responded may receive a visit from a census worker between Aug. 11 and Oct. 31 to help complete the form and ensure everyone is counted.  For more about the census and how the data is used, go to www.2020census.gov

Dear #CCSDfam, 

In any other time, a potential 11% cut in State education funding would not be a cause for optimism, but we are in challenging times.  As the initial forecast called us to brace for a 14% cut and a $32 Million loss for our School District, we are grateful for the 3% difference now projected by the Governor.

Sixteen Cherokee County School District students placed at this year’s statewide Georgia Student Technology Competition, with five earning the top honor!

Dear #CCSDfam, 

One of the best parts of my role as your Superintendent is visiting our schools to see our students and educators working together.

Dear #CCSDfam,

Over the summer break, our high school campuses usually stay busy as student athletes and coaches prepare for fall sports.

REMINDER: The summer schedule for our #CCSDserves to-go meal distribution by CCSD School Nutrition begins Monday, June 1!  Some locations and times have changed – check the flier above for details.  Please remember: a child must be present to receive a bag; do not come sick; do not stay at the site after picking up food.  More information is posted at bit.ly/CCSDserves  Thank you! #CCSDfam

Four longtime Cherokee County School District leaders have retired this year following successful careers of service to the community.

Congratulations to this year’s retiring senior staff: Deputy Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer Trey Olson, Executive Director for Administrative Leadership Beth P. Long, Director of Facility Maintenance Ronald Barnes, and Supervisor of Facility Maintenance Randy Evans.

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating its educators and support staff who are retiring after exemplary service!

To help parents keep their children on track for a great start back to school, CCSD has created a Summer Learning Adventure website of vetted resources for students of all ages!

The Cherokee County School Board during its May meeting, which was held this evening virtually and streamed online, heard school reopening plans and a budget update.

Fourteen Cherokee County School District students placed at the statewide Georgia 4-H Project Achievement Competition!

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating four of its outstanding special education team members!

Four members of the Department of Special Education received its top annual honors during a ceremony on Monday held virtually online.

Our Firebird Fitness Challenge has come to an end, and we are so proud of all our families! Below are some links for you to enjoy! There is a video with each of the Firebird Fitness Challenge class winners and videos for each grade with highlights from the challenges! Way to go!

But first, the announcement you have all been waiting for!  The overall house winner determined by total house points earned throughout the entire school year, including those from the Firebird Fitness Challenge!

2019 – 2020 House Winner Announcement!

https://youtu.be/Yke70mzjgcQ

Firebird Fitness Challenge Class Winners

https://youtu.be/u9go9_sEsF8

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

GRADUATES: The Superintendent has authorized a special #2020CCSDGrads recognition for the Class of 2020 on Friday, May 29.  As part of the last weekly observance when our high school football stadiums are illuminated for 20 minutes at 8:20 p.m. (20:20 military time) on Fridays, we will hold Class of 2020 parades at the schools from 7 to 9 p.m.  Principals will send more information about this event to the parents of seniors.  Graduates will drive through a pick-up area for honor cords, medals and other special regalia and, as a gift to every senior from their Principal, each will receive an embroidered school patch to affix to their keepsake graduation robes.  These patches, which have adhesive backing, feature the same design as those on the rental gowns used for past commencement ceremonies.

The Cherokee County School District has earned national recognition for its effective use of educational technology!

The District has been selected by the District Administration educational leadership organization as the Districts of Distinction award winner in the Educational Technology category.  

Let the games begin! The Firebird Fitness Challenge is coming!

Field Day has always been a beloved Indian Knoll tradition!  We know our students are disappointed to miss Field Day this year, so our specials team has created the Firebird Fitness Challenge as a digital version of this favorite school day!

The Firebird Fitness Challenge is open for participation from May 8 through May 14 at 10:00 AM.  There are 15 different challenges.  Your family can choose which challenges to complete! 

For all challenges, submit your results on Microsoft Forms or on Flipgrid to earn points for your class and your house.  The specials teachers will tally results and announce winners after the deadline on May 14.

All the information you need, including directions for the challenges and how to submit results can be found on our Firebird Fitness Challenge website.

If you have any questions about how to do the challenges, contact Coach Barber or Coach Bermudez.  If you have any questions about how to submit the challenges on Microsoft Forms or Flipgrid, contact Mrs. Lewis or Mrs. Williams.  All of these teachers’ email addresses are on the Firebird Fitness Challenge website.

Click here to access the website.  https://spark.adobe.com/page/irJlmE3gb4SUC/

Get ready for summer reading! Indian Knoll is hosting an online Scholastic Book Fair for our families from May 4 through 18! All purchases will be sent directly to your home with free shipping on all book orders of $25. And our school receives a portion of all purchases made during the fair! Just go to the link below and click on Shop Now to begin!

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/indianknollelementaryschool1

Dear #CCSDfam,

A school in the first week of May overflows with joy and appreciation.  

Children march through the door carrying carefully wrapped packages – plenty of coffee mugs, yes, but also handmade treasures.  Teachers enjoy catered lunches and desserts baked up by PTA volunteers.  Hallways glitter with Teacher Appreciation Week posters, and the celebration spills over to social media, where we scroll through tributes to teachers of today and yesterday.

Dear #CCSDfam,

We lined up in the warm gym, waiting in the alphabetical order we knew by heart.  We scanned the crowded bleachers for familiar faces, including the permitted three we knew best.  And though my only role was to walk across a stage and accept my diploma, my palms stayed anxiously damp.

While Cherokee County School District schools and office remain closed, registration for students new to CCSD for the 2020-21 school year is underway.

Dear #CCSDfam,

Amid the memes floating around, there’s one reminding us “we’re not all in the same boat” in this sea change.

While online learning is working well for many students and families, it is not for all.  We see this in system data; technology requests; teacher and parent feedback; and in our survey results, especially the thousands of comments from students and parents.  

The Cherokee County School Board this evening unanimously approved the Superintendent of Schools’ recommendation to end school early on May 8 and to postpone a decision on high school graduation ceremonies until July 1.

Dear #CCSDfam,

We have learned many lessons over the past month, and some of those have been lessons re-learned.

Like that our school families connect and strengthen even if our buildings are closed.  Our children show us their resilience, their optimism — their best, when put to the test.  And that it sometimes is hard to see the rainbow beyond the storm clouds, but it’s still there.
 

Dear #CCSDfam,

Grace. This word has become a mantra for me and for my leadership team over the last three weeks. It defines how I expect all of our employees to always treat students, parents and each other, and especially so in this challenging time.

Check out our Spring Break Message from Mrs. Cerasoli and Ike! 

Video - Click Here!

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that Gov. Brian Kemp has extended his closure of all schools statewide through the close of the school year.  This announcement also cancels all events scheduled to take place at CCSD schools, all CCSD special events and extra-curricular activities, and all community leases of CCSD facilities through May 31, 2020.   Over the coming days, the Superintendent and staff will develop recommendations for School Board approval regarding operations and programming for the remainder of the year.  This will include time-sensitive topics such as the completion of the academic year, final grades and graduation.  In the interim, CCSD will continue Digital Learning Days; Spring Break (April 6-10) will be observed as scheduled with no Digital Learning Days. #SafeCherokee

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that CCSD’s Office of Technology is ending its successful distribution of CCSD laptops for students to borrow for use during the school closure.  This distribution initially was only to take place on the last day of classes at schools on March 13, but Technology staff have worked hard to continue the process to meet students’ needs.  CCSD has distributed 3,112 devices to students and will fulfill another 500 pending requests by Friday.  If you are a CCSD parent and your child is without any access to any device on which to do their Digital Learning Days assignments, please notify your child’s teacher by 5 p.m. today, March 31, 2020.  If Technology is unable to fulfill your request, staff will let your child’s teacher know immediately so you can make other arrangements.

Dear #CCSDfam, 
 
While we know the past week has not been easy, and the news that Georgia’s schools will remain closed through April 24 caused many families more stress, I am filled with hope.

CCSD is partnering with Mountain Education Charter High School for its evening high school program beginning in June … and more employees are needed to staff the program!

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that the Governor has extended the statewide closure of all schools, including the Cherokee County School District, through April 24, 2020.  The Governor said he will make a decision prior to April 24 as to whether schools will re-open this school year.  This extended closure also means all events scheduled to take place at CCSD schools, all CCSD special events and extra-curricular activities and all community leases of CCSD facilities are cancelled through April 24.  CCSD will continue Digital Learning Days through April 3 and then again from April 13-24; Spring Break will be observed as scheduled from April 6-10 with no Digital Learning Days.  Also during this extended closure, CCSD will continue providing technology, Canvas and other learning support, as well as the #CCSDserves to-go meal program.  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower again expressed how much he appreciates the dedication of our students, parents and employees during this challenging time: we are here to support you -- we are all in this together. #CCSDfam

Dear #CCSDfam, 
 
Our entire CCSD family continues to impress me as we navigate through this storm together.

Online teaching and learning continues to strengthen, as our teachers gauge success and trade best practices, and as our students and families adjust to this challenge and develop new routines.  We continue to loan technology to students in need and provide technology and Canvas support.  We know online teaching and learning isn’t easy – we are here to help you succeed. 

Please share our new job listing for CCSD School Nutrition culinary specialist!  This professional will assist with planning and developing culinary processes for our School Nutrition Program. This position offers a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits (including State Health Benefit Plan & Teachers Retirement System), a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team. Job description & minimum qualifications posted at https://bit.ly/ccsdjob32320 Questions? Contact CCSD Recruiter Lindsay.Bowley@Cherokeek12.net. Join the #CCSDfam & apply now: http://bit.ly/jobsCCSD

Dear #CCSDfam, 

I have never been as proud to serve as your Superintendent as I have been this week.

Our CCSD community always rises to overcome challenges and meet needs, whether it’s a family devastated by a house fire or a student who can’t afford eyeglasses.  And our students and educators always impress me with their daily hard work that has resulted in admirable academic, athletic, and artistic accomplishments.

The Cherokee County School Board tonight heard plans to further extend the closure of all Cherokee County School District schools and offices through the previously scheduled Spring Break. 

CCSD is expanding its school closure to-go student meals program to include additional sites and to extend to Spring Break.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said, although CCSD will not earn federal funding reimbursement for the additional sites or for feeding students during spring break, it is the right thing to do.

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that the Governor has mandated school closures through March 31, 2020. (https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2020-executive-order/03162001/download) This will extend CCSD’s current Digital Learning Days by two more days. We will keep you updated on any further extensions.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) has announced the week of March 16-20, 2020 as “School Board Member Appreciation Week.” 

Dear Parents:

On behalf of the Superintendent, this message is to update you on resources you may need during the two-week closure of CCSD schools from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020.

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that all Cherokee County School District schools and offices will be closed for two weeks from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020.  We will use Digital Learning Days during this closure to continue teaching and learning.

The Cherokee County School District for the third consecutive year has earned 4.5 stars on the state's Financial Efficiency Star Rating. This score is among the best ratings in the State-- only 10 other school districts of the 180 in Georgia earned a 4.5..  

Indian Knoll Elementary School administrators were thrilled by a surprise visit from Sawnee Energy Service Representative Ms. Mandy Love this morning.  She was pleased to announce the that both Media Specialist Jennifer Lewis and Technology Lab Teacher Marissa Williams were awarded full funding for their “Bright Ideas” Program Grants. The combination of both grants will bring an additional $2,000.00 into the school for instructional purposes.  Mrs. Williams will be further exploring coding and purchasing a Botley Coding Robot Activity Set, while Mrs. Lewis will be purchasing non-fiction books for the IKES Media Center.  We are thrilled to partner with Sawnee and recognize they are making a meaningful impact on our students through this grant opportunity.

The latest issue of our CCSD Connections parent newsletter is online now: https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/newsletter Thanks to Credit Union of Georgia for its sponsorship! #CCSDfam

The Cherokee County Council PTA has set the schedule for its Parent University program presented in collaboration with CCSD and community partners.

Today is PTA Day in CCSD, as proclaimed by the Cherokee County School Board! We appreciate our PTA and its volunteers who give so much of their time, talent, treasure and hearts to support our students, staff and schools. More: http://bit.ly/PTAday20 #CCSDfam

The Cherokee County School District on Thursday conducted a multi-agency emergency response drill to practice school evacuation and reunification plans.

The drill was held during the winter break to avoid disrupting classes, with activity taking place at Cherokee High School in Canton, CCSD’s offices in Canton, and First Baptist Church of Woodstock.  Hundreds of law enforcement and public safety officers, volunteer role-players including students and parents, and CCSD employees worked together to act out an emergency scenario at the school, evacuation of the school, and reunification of students and staff with their families at the church.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 approved the appointments of new Principals and other leaders for next school year.

The Cherokee County School District next month will present its second annual Support Staff Employees of the Year Awards!

The celebration on March 12 will honor one Support Staff Employee of the Year from each of CCSD’s schools, centers and central office divisions.  Each honoree will be recognized by the Superintendent of Schools and School Board members, receive a plaque and gifts of appreciation, and enjoy a reception with their family and Principal.  

The Cherokee County School District and its Superintendent of Schools are finalists for national awards recognizing the best in school spirit and dedication to schools and students!

The Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards celebrate schools, organizations and individuals who “go above and beyond the call of duty to build school pride, student engagement and community spirit.”  

Our next Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the media center from March 27 through April 3!  The theme is “Jungle Book Fair: Elephants, Tigers, and Books, Oh My!” 

Here are our hours of operation.

Friday, March 27: 8:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Monday, March 30: 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Tuesday, March 31: 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Wednesday, April 1: 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Thursday, April 2: 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

Friday, April 3: 7:15 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.

March 19 – April 1: online ordering at

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/ikesspring2020

Our teachers will put together wish boxes of books that they would like to add to their classroom libraries.  Please consider purchasing one of these titles for your child’s class!

Our book fair needs lots of volunteers to be a success!  Please contact our media specialist Jennifer Lewis at jennifer.lewis@cherokeek12.net if you are interested in helping.

The Cherokee County School District will host its annual job fair on Saturday, March 7 for hiring new teachers, bus drivers, school nurses and school nutrition workers.  The District is also looking for psychologists and speech language pathologists.

Congratulations to the winners of the annual CCSD Reading Bowl!  

Cherokee County School District students excelled in this year’s Student Technology Competition, with 53 placing first at Regions! 

The statewide Georgia Student Technology Competition program includes 16 categories of competition for students in Grades 3-12. Three hundred and thirty-seven students put their technology skills to the test at the Piedmont Regional Technology Competition recently held at Woodstock MS: School. 

The window for school choice reassignments for 2020-21 within the Cherokee County School District is February 1-March 1. This includes applications for CCSD STEM and Fine Arts Academies.

The Cherokee County School District is opening online registration for 2020-21 kindergarten students and first graders new to CCSD on Monday, January 27.  The Registration Gateway allows parents to log in from home via CCSD’s website and get enrollment forms filled out online, rather than filling them out by hand while waiting at a school office.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 approved the appointment of a longtime CCSD leader as its next Chief Operations Officer.

Dr. Debra Murdock, a past Georgia High School Principal of the Year who currently serves as an Executive Director in the Office of School Operations, will begin leading the division this spring.

The Cherokee County School District earned positive credit ratings from the world’s top agencies, benefitting the community’s taxpayers.

Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s financial service companies this month reaffirmed CCSD’s Aa2 and Aa+ ratings, respectively, and awarded Stable outlooks to both, which places the District in an outstanding position for future growth. 
 

Our PTA does an excellent job keeping us up-to-date on upcoming events at IKES! Check out this super informative newsletter from our PTA! 

We greatly value the outstanding support staff in our schools and central office divisions, which is why we recognize one here every week. Please join us in thanking and congratulating Indian Knoll Elementary School Support Staff Employee of the Year Tammy Grummer!

Dean Rusk Middle School sixth-grader Riley O’Neill correctly spelled “piratical” and then “hurriedly” to claim the title as the county’s top speller at the 2020 Cherokee County School District Spelling Bee Thursday night at Cherokee High School.  Brayden McPhillips of Woodstock Middle School captured second, and Laura Hand of Creekland Middle School placed third. 

The January edition of the CCSD Connections monthly parent e-newsletter is now online here and includes updates on safety and security and other important information. Thanks to Credit Union of Georgia for its sponsorship! #CCSDfam

Every holiday season, CCSD students, staff, parents & community partners join together to show how much CCSD cares about its families in need.  We hope you enjoy these photos from just a few of their many service projects. #CCSDfam #CCSDcares
 

Our IKES Chorus students are spreading holiday cheer! 

The Cherokee County School District’s Social Studies Fair saw impressive participation, with 26 first-place winners advancing to the Northwest Regional Social Studies Fair in February!

Safe Schools Alert

Please watch this brief video to learn more about SafeSchools Alert - CCSD's system to report a school safety concern by text, email, phone call, online message or app to school police and administrators. Reminder: This system does not replace 911; please call 911 in an emergency. #SafeCherokee

The Cherokee County School District’s third annual VILLA Program, which encourages and celebrates parent engagement, saw record participation this year.

NOVEMBER EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH- Chelsea Curtis Magee
Chelsea Magee is a Special Education teacher who works collaboratively with our homeroom teachers to assist our students across all curriculum content areas. Mrs. Magee is very flexible and is always willing to help a teammate or drop everything for a child at a moments notice. Her calm nature and determination to always do what is best for our students is admirable. We appreciate her today and throughout the year for her dedication to IKES. Chelsea was awarded downtown Woodstock Bucks from our Partner In Education, The Premier Group- Keller Williams as well as a treat from our PTA. We are thankful for you!

The December edition of the CCSD Connections monthly parent e-newsletter is now online here. Thanks to Credit Union of Georgia for its sponsorship! #CCSDfam

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 heard an update on CCSD’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative, including projects underway to increase counseling services and create a “parent university” program for providing parents more information to help their children’s safety and well-being.

The purpose of Child Find is to identify, locate, and evaluate children and youth, who are suspected of having or have a diagnosed disability or developmental delay, in order to provide free appropriate Special Education services.  The Cherokee County School District serves children from age 3 to 21 years old.

BETA CLUB CANNED FOOD DRIVE:  Supporting MUST Ministries and working collaboratively with the SHS ROTC. Please send in the food items to earn points for your BIRD HOUSE.

Kindergarten:  Corn, Green Beans, Yams
1^st Grade:  Cranberry Sause, Soup and Canned Fruit
2^nd Grade: Turkey Gravy Mix, Stuffing
3^rd Grade:  Chicken Broth, Macaroni and Cheese
4^th Grade:  Instant Potatoes, Marshmallows
5^th Grade:  5 lb. Bag of Sugar, Pie or Cake Mix with Frosting

Last day is November 20th. 

It's National School Psychology Awareness Week! We greatly appreciate all that our CCSD school psychologists do to help our students succeed. #CCSDfam

Congratulations to 5th grade teacher, Megan Malecek on being named as the October Employee of the Month! We appreciate Mrs. Malecek's dedication to the learning of her students and are grateful to have her as part of the IKES Staff.

Cherokee County School District schools continue to score high among their community members for fostering a positive school climate and culture!

The District earned a four-star average on the five-star scale in the Georgia Department of Education’s annual ratings, which measure how a community views the quality of its school’s culture and character; the highest possible rating is five stars.  The rating is based on a survey of students, parents and teachers; student discipline issue rates; and daily attendance.

The November edition of the CCSD Connections parent e-newsletter now online here is filled with important information including two updates to the school calendar. 

There will be early dismissal for middle school and high school students on Friday, Dec. 20; elementary school dismissal will be on time, but After School Program will not be offered.   

There will be no school on Tuesday, March 24, the date of the Presidential Primary Election, in order to ensure the safety and security of students, as many schools are used as polling sites.  March 24 will be a Digital Learning Day, with assignments provided online for students to complete at home.  More information about how Digital Learning Days will work on March 24, as well as on any inclement weather days this fall and winter, is in the newsletter.

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

The Cherokee County School District’s performance has improved, and, for the seventh consecutive year, has exceeded the State’s average College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) accountability system score.

The scores, released today by the Georgia Department of Education, annually calculate student academic achievement and progress.  The School District’s 2018-19 CCRPI average is 83, an increase from 79 the previous year, and exceeding the State average of 76.  Scores at all three levels of CCSD schools also improved from the previous year and surpassed State performance: 86 elementary (77 Georgia); 80 middle (72); 82 high (77). 

October 21-25 is National School Bus Safety Week, and this is also the time we honor our school bus drivers and thank them for the great job they do keeping children safe on the ride to and from school.  Thanks to sponsors Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Chick-fil-A restaurants in Cherokee County, CCSD drivers were treated to breakfast on Tuesday and given Chick-fil-A gift cards and a bag of treats.  CCSD schools also held special events or provided tokens of thanks for their drivers. 

We have some exciting days planned for Red Ribbon Week! 

Monday - We're RED hot against drugs - Wear as much red as possible. 

Tuesday - It's CRAZY to do drugs - Wear a crazy outfit

Wednesday - Staying drug free and healthy is no sweat - wear your workout clothes

Thursday - Stay in the game - Wear sports jersey

Friday - Your future is key - wear your future career outfit

Would you like to see pics from our Day of Awesomeness? Check out our Photo Gallery for all the pics! It was definitely an awesome time!

Can you remember a teacher or another school staff member from your childhood who made a positive difference in your life?  Did you ever thank them?

“We know our School District is a family of caring teachers, counselors, bus drivers, cafeteria staff and many more, all focused on doing their best to serve our students …  and a new districtwide initiative will now give students the opportunity to thank them!” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “We’re excited to begin #thanksCCSD and honor those among us who go above and beyond.”

Want to learn more about what's next for CCSD? 

The Cherokee County School Board recently approved CCSD Blueprint: a long-range plan for continued success.  This strategic plan will guide CCSD's work for the next five years.  You can learn more about Blueprint, and keep up with CCSD's progress in accomplishing the goals set by the plan, by visiting this new webpage.

Hundreds of athletes and volunteers participated in the CCSD Special Olympics Awareness Games on Friday morning at River Ridge High School.  

The October edition of the CCSD Connections parent e-newsletter now online here is filled with important information including an update on CCSD’s Digital Learning Day plan for inclement weather.  Thanks to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia. #CCSDfam

Congratulations to 4^th Grade Teacher Angela Barnes who is the Indian Knoll Elementary School Staff Member of the Month for September. Ms. Barnes recently transformed her room into a football stadium and students worked to complete their English Language Arts Playbook! She divided the day into four quarters- each focused on a different ELA standard. The student engagement was amazing, and the students had an excellent time learning and collaborating. She also recently took initiative to construct an interactive instructional pacing guide for her teammates. Angela always goes the extra mile to make learning interactive. We are so fortunate to have her as a valued part of our Firebird family. She was presented a Woodstock Bucks gift certificate from Partner in Education TPG Keller Williams, and an additional treat from our IKES PTA. Keep up the great work Angela!  We are super proud of your efforts. 

The Cherokee County School District’s graduation rate continues to exceed State averages with 87% of the Class of 2019 earning a diploma within four years of entering high school.

CCSD’s performance tops the State’s rate of 82% -- an all-time high since the State began using a new formula required by Federal law.  Georgia’s rate has increased by 12 percentage points since 2012, while CCSD has climbed nearly 15 points.

The Cherokee County School District School Nutrition program has scored a three-peat with its third consecutive Platinum-level Georgia Golden Radish Award!

CCSD’s program, which serves 5 million meals each year in school cafeterias, again earned the top award from Georgia’s Departments of Agriculture, Public Health and Education, and Georgia Organics.

The September edition of the CCSD Connections parent e-newsletter is now online at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/newsletter, and is filled with important news & updates. Thanks to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia! #CCSDfam

Congratulations to CCSD's School Teachers of the Year!

At the start of every school year, each CCSD school is asked to select its own Teacher of the Year.  These school-level winners now are eligible for the honor of Cherokee County School District 2020 Teacher of the Year! 

Please share our new job listing for CCSD Director of Facility Maintenance! This leadership position offers a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits (including State Health Benefit Plan & Teachers Retirement System), a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team.

Our next Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the media center from September 6 through 13!  The theme is “Arctic Adventure: Snow Much to Read!” 

Here are our hours of operation.

Friday, September 6: 7:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.  

Monday, September 9: 7:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.  

Tuesday, September 10: 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. 

Wednesday, September 11: 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. 

Thursday, September 12: 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 

Friday, September 13: 7:15 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. 

September 1 – 14: online ordering 

What's cooking, #CCSDfam?  

If you're a CCSD parent who loves to cook, please enter our first-ever CCSD School Nutrition Parent Recipe Contest... you could win a $100 Kroger gift card and see your side-dish recipe featured on CCSD school lunch menus in October!  

The CCSD Transportation Department has earned recertification of its prestigious National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Blue Seal of Excellence!

CCSD in 2015 became one of the first school systems in the State to obtain this level of certification, and just learned that this important seal of approval has been extended again based on a close review of its staff’s knowledge and practices.

Step It Up Fundraiser packets were sent home with students on Tuesday, August 27th. To view this packet of information, click below. 

Step It Up Flyer

CCSD students are invited to enter CCSD's Fire Safety Essay & Poster Contests by Sept. 9.

To raise awareness in observation of National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12, CCSD's Office of Safety & Security, in collaboration with Cherokee County Office of Fire & Emergency Services and Woodstock Fire Department, will sponsor districtwide fire safety contests.  The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) theme is: “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!”

IKES August Employee of the month is Chrissy Snelson!! We are so proud of her and all she does!! #Fabulousfirebirds

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 approved Blueprint, a new long-range plan for the Cherokee County School District’s continued success, developed based on community input. 

The creation of the new five-year strategic plan, which is posted here, evolved over six months of meetings with students, families, teachers, support staff, business and community partners to determine what matters most to them and how CCSD could better serve them.

Want to learn more about the Cherokee County School District and how you can better support your child's education? CCSD's VILLA parent academy program is the answer!

CCSD is accepting applications through Sept. 6 for its third annual VILLA program that provides parents with a behind-the-scenes look at their School District.

The August edition of the CCSD Connections parent e-newsletter is now online here, and is filled with important news & updates.

The School Board's Strategic Work Session and regular School Board meeting originally scheduled for August 15 (which were cancelled due to a gas main leak in the vicinity) have been rescheduled for Thursday, August 22. The Superintendent/School Board Strategic Work Session will be held at 6:00 p.m., and the School Board meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. The Superintendent’s recommended, updated agenda will be re-posted to the School District website on Monday, August 19.

Please remember that applications for free or reduced-price meals must be updated every school year, per Federal guidelines.  Applications for this school year are due by Sept. 12 to avoid an interruption in status. 

You can apply online at www.lunchapplication.com or pick up a paper application in the front office of your child's school.  

If you have questions, please contact Paula Hilton at 770 721-8443 or paula.hilton@cherokee12.net.  Para español: Viri Gates a 770 721-8460 o Viri.Dudoit@cherokeek12.net.

Due to the anticipated high heat index for today and Tuesday, August 13, 2019, the Cherokee County School District is cancelling all outdoor activities from 12:00 noon to 6:00 PM.  This includes curricular and extracurricular classes and activities.

The Cherokee County School District is asking local businesses and organizations to Partner Up with CCSD!

Businesses and organizations are invited to learn more about partnering with CCSD schools by dropping in at the free event anytime between 4 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility auditorium (1205 Bluffs Parkway, Canton, 30114).  Participants can visit tables of school leaders, who will be grouped by geographic area, to share coffee and conversation with them about partnership opportunities.

IKES has an amazing administration! Learn more by reading their bios! 

You now can read CCSD's first-ever Class Act magazine online!

Thanks to the Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News and Cherokee Life Magazine, CCSD is able to share more news with you through this new publication.

The Back-to-School Gateway is a paperless, online registration system for students already enrolled in CCSD schools that replaces the dreaded stack of “first-day forms” with a quick digital check and update of students’ existing contact and emergency notification information in CCSD’s records system.  Forms should be completed by Friday, August 9.

Volunteers make a positive difference in our schools, which is why we spotlight one here every week... congratulations to Indian Knoll Elementary School 2019 Volunteer of the Year Christine Dagostino!

The Volunteer of the Year from every CCSD school is recognized at an annual ceremony sponsored by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. Do you volunteer to help a CCSD school? Contact the Principal of your local school (http://cherokeek12.net/schools/) to learn how you can help! #CCSDfam
 

It’s Curriculum Night time!  CCSD Curriculum Night programs provide parents with an overview of what their children will learn this school year.  Find the event for your child's school in the schedule posted online here.

Interested in joining PTA and signing up to paint the rock? Click HERE!

If we could have ordered up a perfect morning for the first day of school, I’m not sure it would have been prettier than today.

Not only did the beautiful weather exceed expectations, so did our entire #CCSDfam.  

CCSD is ready to celebrate the first day of school tomorrow, Aug. 1. We hope you enjoy this welcome-back video featuring messages from each of our schools! Please use the hashtag #CCSD1stDay tomorrow to share your photos with us. #CCSDfam #CCSDcares

The Cherokee County School District is increasing its efforts to support the emotional and mental health and well-being of students and staff through a new Social and Emotional Learning initiative.  Dr. Debra Murdock, who’s heading up the districtwide effort, has launched a new Twitter account @CCSDCares to share news about CCSD’s efforts… and to hear ideas from CCSD educators, parents and the community at large.  #CCSDCares  #CCSDfam   

It's almost time for CCSD school buses to start rolling! Do you know the rules of the road when encountering school buses? When to stop and when you can keep going? Please check out this video - http://bit.ly/stop4bus - to learn more. #SafeCherokee

Cherokee County School District students topped State averages on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests for the fifth consecutive year, with important gains in early literacy and math! 

The test assess students’ mastery of Georgia Performance Standards, which set expectations for what lessons students will learn in each grade. Students in Grades 3-8 take Milestones End-of-Grade exams every spring in select core subjects; high school students in specific courses (and eighth-graders taking the classes for high school credit) take Milestones End-of-Course exams.  Parents will receive their children’s scores next month.

What's new for CCSD this school year? What do I have left on my back-to-school to-do list? Check out CCSD's annual First Day Facts report - a two-page, quick read of important information to start your school year off right! #CCSDfam #CCSD1stDay

Please share our new job listing for school nurses -- this position offers a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits, a great work calendar and schedule (work while your kids are in school... and enjoy vacation with them!), and a wonderful work environment and team. Join the #CCSDfam & apply now: http://bit.ly/JoinCCSDfam

UPDATE 1:30 p.m. - The Gateway is back online and running - thank you!

The Back-to-School Gateway is currently offline due to technical difficulties. CCSD Technology staff are working with the system vendor to correct the issue as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience — we will post here when it's back online and ready to use.

The July edition of the CCSD Connections parent e-newsletter is now online here, and is filled with important back-to-school information! Thanks to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, July 18, 2019 appointed a longtime CCSD leader to head up the new Social and Emotional Learning initiative, as well as several resulting Principal changes.  

Dr. Debra Murdock, the former Principal of Cherokee High School and Georgia High School Principal of the Year, who has most recently served as the School Operations’ executive director overseeing middle and high schools, will take on the newly created role focused on developing new ways to better support students’ and employees’ emotional and mental health and well-being.

CCSD stays busy over the summer break, as departments continue to serve students through special programs and work begins to prepare for the new school year.  This slideshow video and the information below represents just some of the many projects underway over the summer.

Please share our new job listing for Facility Technician -- this position offers a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits, a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team. Join the #CCSDfam & apply now: http://bit.ly/CCSDFacilityTech Questions? Contact CCSD Recruiter Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256.

We appreciate partners' support of our schools, which is why we celebrate their service here every week... congratulations to Indian Knoll Elementary School 2019 Partner of the Year: Kona Ice of Cherokee!

Please share our new job listing for a School Psychologist -- this position offers a competitive compensation package with outstanding benefits, a great work calendar and schedule, and a wonderful work environment and team. Join the #CCSDfam & apply now: http://bit.ly/jobsCCSD Questions? Contact CCSD Recruiter Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256.

Please share this opportunity! We are so appreciative of the Cherokee Sheriff's Office and its dedicated crossing guards. #CCSDfam

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, June 20, 2019 unanimously approved the Superintendent’s proposed budget for next school year and celebrated the swearing-in of a new CCSD School Police Chief.

Seventy-five CCSD teachers have earned the Certified Inclusive Educator (CIE) designation after completing specialized training to better serve special education students.

The 10-month program, developed by CCSD’s special education department, provided teams of general education and special education co-teachers with training on best practices including research-based strategies and effective models, concluding with a capstone presentation by participants for their fellow teachers at their own schools.

CCSD's expanded elementary school enrichment program, Summer Discovery, was full of arts and crafts, Lego building, computer coding, cooking classes, singing and dancing-- and, a lot of smiles!  

Attention CCSD Parents: Please be advised that we have received reports that a door-to-door salesman working in our community has allegedly told parents that he and his merchandise have been endorsed by CCSD.  That is untrue.  We have not and do not endorse any such materials or sales.  Thank you to the parents who brought this to our attention.   

The latest issue of our CCSD Connections parent newsletter is online now: https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/newsletter Thanks to Credit Union of Georgia for its sponsorship! #CCSDfam

The Cherokee County School District’s 2019-20 school year will begin on Thursday, August 1. 

Each school’s front office will be open daily beginning Monday, July 15; hours are limited, so please call before visiting.

CCSD is continuing its participation in the USDA Seamless Summer Option, which offers free meals to children during the summer – and rolling out a new delivery bus!

The meals are available to youth 18 years of age or younger; the program runs June 5 to July 19, Monday through Friday, with no meal service July 1-5. All meals must be consumed on site; the distribution sites and times are listed on the flier above; a menu is online here.

When children do not read during the summer months, research suggests they may lose up to three months of reading ability. Stop the "summer slide" by taking advantage of free reading resources for students this summer. 

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised that the School Board has unanimously approved a new tougher anti-vaping policy for next school year.

While CCSD’s student discipline code already prohibits the possession or use of vaping devices and oils anywhere on campus, this new policy (click here to read) adds more serious repercussions.

Our teachers are amazing, which is why we share the story of a school’s Teacher of the Year every week... please help us celebrate Indian Knoll Elementary School 2019 Teacher of the Year Patti Nations!

Indian Knoll Elementary School Teacher of the Year Patti Nations felt called to her profession as a young girl, transforming everywhere she went into a classroom for her siblings or stuffed animals.

The Cherokee County School District is beginning a new service for families registering students for school.

The Centralized Summer Registration Center will allow parents to complete the process for registering students -- in any grade who will be new to CCSD for the 2019-20 school year -- early in the summer break, rather than waiting for school front offices to reopen.

The Cherokee County School District has published its annual Financial Facts report, which provides highlights and snapshots from the proposed Annual Budget.

The report is posted online here and provides financial additional information to the community in advance of the School Board’s public hearings and budget adoption.

Cherokee County School District high schools and middle schools will have early release days later this month, which will affect traffic in the surrounding areas.

Today is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, advocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Cherokee County School District joins in this observance as we care deeply about the health and well-being of all of our students. Our school counselors, nurses, social workers and psychologists are here to help. We have developed a resource page for parents to learn more about mental health resources and suicide awareness and prevention: http://bit.ly/ccsdresources #CCSDfam #NCMHAD

Please join us in thanking our school nurses today on National School Nurse Day! They provide exceptional care for our students, staff and visitors each day. #SND2019 #CCSDfam

All six Cherokee County School District high schools have been named to U.S. News and World Report’s “Best High Schools” list!

The magazine’s prestigious list is based on factors including academic performance, college readiness, graduation rates and success of disadvantaged students. 

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day! We appreciate our outstanding teachers and all that they do every day to serve our community. #CCSDfam #ThankATeacher

Please help us spread the word: online registration for kindergartners and all students who will be new to CCSD for the 2019-20 school year is underway at https://registration.cherokeek12.net/. You can complete the online process in about 15 minutes and set up a time to visit the school and verify your required legal documents. Want to learn more about the learning that happens in our kindergarten classrooms? Check out the report: Ready to Learn: A Parent’s Guide to CCSD Kindergarten at http://bit.ly/CCSDkready #CCSDfam

The May edition of the CCSD Connections parent newsletter now is online here and features info on graduation, summer camp (the deadline to apply for CCSD Summer Discovery is Friday) -- and much more!  Thanks to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia.

PTA Presidents Jenn Severson and Rachel Chapman along with Principal Kim Cerasoli attended the 13th District of GA PTAs Spring Conference! Our PTA won numerous membership awards and 3rd place for District & County Outstanding Local Unit. PTA $200 Scholarship Recipient Awards went to Ava Grace Burt, James Gilreath, and Izzy Mongelluzzi. The Cherokee County Council PTA Birney Butler Outstanding Educator Award was presented to music teacher Julie Bryant. The Cherokee Council PTA also named Kim Cerasoli as the 2018-19 Outstanding Principal. Our IKES PTA earned some of the highest awards in the district! Congratulations to IKES, our PTA and EVERYONE who supports our school. Thanks for a very successful year!

Congratulations to Mrs. Brandy Phillips our Indian Knoll Elementary School Employee of the Month for April.  Brandy wears many hats within the school building as our Instructional Lead Strategist (ILS). Most recently, Mrs. Phillips served as our building testing coordinator and did a phenomenal job with the organization of our testing groups and scheduling.  She also works closely with IKES families to develop educational plans for children who might have specific needs.  Our teachers gave her a standing ovation at the faculty meeting after this recognition because they greatly value her as a teacher leader.  She mentors and trains teachers throughout the year.  Partner in Education, The Keller Williams Premier Group provided her with a $25 Woodstock gift certificate and the IKES PTA also gave her a treat.  The school is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and conscientious employee who helps all staff members whenever there is a need!  

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, April 18, 2019 approved the appointment of a new CCSD School Police Chief and new assistant principals to fill vacancies for next school year. 

The School Board unanimously approved naming Major Buster Cushing, who currently serves as commander of field operations for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, as the next CCSD School Police Chief effective July 1.  Major Cushing will fill the role held by retiring Chief Mark Kissel  since the Department’s establishment 20 years ago.

Indian Knoll Elementary School is the winner of the Cherokee County School District’s 2019 Elementary School Academic Bowl.

All 23 elementary schools participated in the event, with Indian Knoll ES, Macedonia ES, Avery ES, Boston ES winning their leagues and advancing to the semi-finals.  Macedonia Elementary School won second place.

The Cherokee County School District’s online system for registering new students for the 2019-20 school year now is open to parents!

Parents can log in from home to the New Student Gateway by clicking here.  Parents who missed the window for online kindergarten registration in March also can register their children using the New Student Gateway.

Congratulations to First Grade Teacher Carli Marinelli our Indian Knoll Elementary School Employee of the Month for March. Mrs. Marinelli does a wonderful job differentiating for her class on a regular basis. Her instruction is very engaging, hands-on, and technology based. Carli has also developed positive relationships and her students feel part of a classroom family. She is highly respected in the community and with our staff. The Premier Group (TPG) Keller Williams, and our IKES PTA presented her with goodies and gift certificates. We celebrate this dedicated teacher today and all year long! Thanks for your dedication and professionalism.

Our 3rd Quarter Bird House Meeting was a BLAST!! We cheered on our fellow firebirds' accomplishments including perfect attendance, all A honor roll, and Pride of the Flock classroom winners. Congratulations to the YELLOW FALCON BIRD HOUSE and the Pride of the Knoll, Citlali Cruz in Mrs. Bond's 4th Grade classroom. We take pride in recognizing the efforts of our students for outstanding behavior, attendance, and academic excellence! #IKESrocks

Want to see more pictures? Click on the Photo Gallery on our website to view photos. 

The April edition of the CCSD Connections parent newsletter now is online here and features an important update on the school calendar issue -- and much more!

Upate:  Summer Discovery 2020 is tentatively scheduled for June 8-12.  Mark your calendars and look for registration information in early spring.

CCSD is expanding its week-long summer enrichment program to all rising first- through fifth-graders!

CCSD Summer Discovery program will be offered at Hickory Flat & Liberty Elementary Schools, and open to all CCSD students. Two sessions -- all taught by CCSD teachers -- will be offered (9 a.m.-Noon; 1-4 p.m.) June 3-7. The cost for the week-long program is $100 for one session or $190 for two sessions. Parents provide transportation and lunch.

Please join CCSD in supporting April as the Month of the Military Child by wearing purple on Wednesday, April 10, for Purple Up Day! #GAMilitaryChildMonth #CCSDfam  Learn more here. 

This is National Social Work Month, and CCSD has four full-time social workers who assist the families of our 42,000 students in overcoming challenges that might affect their education.  Our social workers strive daily to connect families with community resources and provide interventions to address situations like homelessness, hunger, truancy, drug abuse, neglect and other challenges.   Last year, CCSD’s three social workers made 793 home visits; handled more than 800 cases; made 1,500 parent contacts and provided assistance to 146 homeless students.   This year, with the addition of a fourth member to the social worker team, they are on a pace to work 1,000 referrals and  serve more than 230 homeless students. 

Cherokee County School District students excelled in this year’s Student Technology Competition, with 53 placing first at Regions and six placing at State!

The statewide program includes 16 categories of competition for students in Grades 3-12.  Two hundred and eighty students put their technology skills to the test at the Piedmont Regional Technology Competition held earlier this school year at Woodstock Middle School. 

Indian Knoll Elementary School Counselor Colleen DeLosh deeply understands the struggles of the students she serves.

Not only did she, of course, attend school like them, but she also as a young person experienced her parents’ divorce, moving and a sibling’s drug addiction – all issues that make life even more challenging for her own students.

Both of her parents were good listeners, but Ms. DeLosh needed a “neutral” party to confide in, lean on and learn from… and she found that person in a school counselor.

What is Child Find?
The purpose of Child Find is to identify, locate, and evaluate children and youth, who are suspected of having or have a diagnosed disability or developmental delay, in order to provide free appropriate Special Education services.  The Cherokee County School District serves children ages 3 to 21.

The Cherokee County School Board is celebrating the CCSD School Police Department for its 20 years of exemplary service.  

Led since its establishment by Chief Mark Kissel, who has announced he will retire at the end of this school year, the Department consists of 20 police officers certified by the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, an Emergency Management Facilitator and office staff.

Indian Knoll Elementary School fourth grader Connor Schroter participated in the St. Baldrick's challenge. Conner raised $631.00 for childhood cancer research this year.  Connor is the son of Stephen and Jennifer Schroter. The school applauds this selfless act and his fundraising efforts for this cause.

The Indian Knoll Administration graciously accepted a $500.00 donation from Rebecca Cooper from the Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage Company.  As a real estate agent, Ms. Cooper allows her clients to select a school at the closing to receive a monetary donation.  This generous donation was made on behalf of the Snook family.  They have a 2^nd grade daughter named Zanna who will soon be attending Indian Knoll Elementary School.  The school is very appreciative of this gift and will use the money support enrichment in the classroom.

CCSD's Communications Division today released the District's 2018 Annual Report of District Progress, showcasing CCSD student achievement and School District accountability across multiple metrics.  The report can be viewed here. 

The Indian Knoll Elementary School second grade teachers hosted a week of “Math Boot Camp”.  The teachers developed rigorous, hands-on math activities and had the students rotate to every classroom to practice their addition and subtraction facts.  Each classroom selected their top three math students and the children participated in a math bowl as their culminating activity. Indian Knoll Elementary School teachers are always looking for creative and innovative ways to engage students and to instill the love for learning. Congratulations to our top three winners!

Indian Knoll Elementary School is hosting a “Penny War” this week to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  PBIS house teams are competing against each other to raise the most money.  Mrs. Pepper’s class recently counted over 3000 coins for the Pelican team. This is one of several fundraisers the school participates in to support St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital care, treatment, training, education, and cancer research. Cherokee County Schools was recently recognized for their efforts to support this organization which focuses specifically on childhood cancer.

Let’s celebrate 3^rd grade teacher, Kristin Towns who was our February Employee of the Month. During the school year, Mrs. Towns has consistently integrated technology across the curriculum and challenges her students.  She is a life-long learner and enjoys continued professional development.  She is always the first teacher to try something new and innovative. Kristin is always super enthusiastic about her lessons and provides her class with hands-on, rigorous, and engaging activities.  She inspires her students to reach new heights. She also has developed positive relationships with all of her stakeholders and her class is truly a family.  Mrs. Towns is always very positive and valued at IKES.  She was presented with a certificate, gift cards, and a gift from the PTA.  We appreciate her dedication and service to the school.

Look out world! IKES students are not only smart and kind, but they are also athletic! Our IKES CYB Final 4 basketball teams 🏀 were recognized on the morning news!!! Way to go FIREBIRDS. We are so proud of you all! 

IKES celebrated Read Across America with some amazing events! 

Missed our job fair, but still want to learn more about joining the #CCSDfam for next school year? We're participating in the Cherokee Career Expo from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center (1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton 30114). We're hiring teachers, school nurses, bus drivers, school nutrition cafeteria staff, clerical support and more! #CherokeeByChoice Click here for more: https://www.cherokeega.org/career-expo/

The March edition of the CCSD Connections parent newsletter now is online here and features an important update on the State-mandated school calendar issue and new troubling education legislation.  The newsletter also includes two brief surveys on our Strategic Plan and communications… please participate to help CCSD continuously improve!

Do you know the rules of the road when encountering school buses?  When to stop and when you can keep going?  Check out this video - http://bit.ly/stop4bus - to learn more. #SafeCherokee

The Cherokee County School District’s award-winning School Nutrition department will celebrate National School Breakfast Week from March 4 to 8 with special items on the menu at all CCSD school cafeterias including a fruit parfait on Tuesday and breakfast for lunch on Wednesday.  The week’s theme is “School Breakfast: Start Your Engines.” 

#CCSDfam #NSBW19

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating the importance of literacy with its second annual month-long “Get CCSD Reading” campaign! 

In support of the statewide Get Georgia Reading initiative, the program kicks off with Read Across America Day on Friday, a nationwide reading event that coincides with renowned children’s book author and illustrator Dr. Seuss’s March 2 birthday.

The Cherokee County School District seeks to score with a new math campaign and competition connected to the excitement of college basketball’s “March Madness.”

The month-long CCSD Math Madness celebration begins this week in schools across CCSD, with activities planned by the Office of Curriculum & Instruction that encourage problem-solving, real-world math application… and fun!  Students in kindergarten through fifth grade also will have the chance to win prizes through an i-Ready Math March Madness competition using CCSD’s online math system.

The Cherokee County School District has kicked off a significant update to its five-year Strategic Plan and began the process with community engagement.

The School District, with the support of the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA), is developing a new plan aligned with the community’s vision for the future and designed to be better understood and appreciated by the community and more accurately implemented and measured by CCSD staff.

The Cherokee County School District is expanding its week-long summer enrichment program to all rising first- through fifth-graders! Previously offered as a program for specific schools, this year's fun and educational CCSD Summer Discovery program will be offered at two campuses, Hickory Flat and Liberty Elementary Schools, and open to CCSD students -- no matter the school they attend. Two sessions will be offered each day from June 3-7 (9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.), and students can enroll in one or both (students who enroll in both will have time to eat a lunch brought from home on campus). Parents will need to provide transportation for their students, as well as lunch; before- and after-care is not provided. More details -- including course offerings and costs -- will be shared with parents of elementary school students soon!

Happy Valentine's Day from the IKES Tech Lab! First Graders created fact and opinion photo journals in Adobe Spark! #IKESRocks

The Cherokee County School District next month will present its first-ever Support Staff Employee of the Year Awards!

The celebration on March 5 will honor one Support Staff Employee of the Year from each of CCSD’s schools, centers and central office divisions.  Each honoree will be recognized by the Superintendent of Schools and School Board members, receive a plaque and gifts of appreciation, and enjoy a reception with their family and Principal. 

Happy Counselor's Appreciation Week to Mrs. DeLosh and Mrs. Waycaster! The faculty and staff showered them with tokens of their appreciation this week. We are also excited to pass the Counselor of the Zone torch to Mrs. DeLosh. She will represent the Sequoyah Zone and compete for the district title of Counselor of the Year. We are blessed to have both of these fabulous ladies at IKES. 
Counselor of the Zone 2018-19, Lori Waycaster
Counselor of the Zone 2019-20, Colleen DeLosh

Please help the Georgia PTA learn more about family engagement in our schools by taking this quick survey by Feb. 15: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4338471/8e40728cd90f  #CCSDfam

Congratulations to special education teacher Micha Guice who was named the IKES January Employee of the Month. Mrs. Guice coordinates our garden lessons, and takes an active role in facility grounds beautification.  She plans science lessons that reflect grade-level state standards and the IKES garden.  In fact, she also stocks our farmers market so we can enjoy the food straight out of the garden. In the classroom, she is a very hands-on teacher.  Her students learn through engaging and meaningful experiences. We are thrilled to celebrate her positive impact on student achievement.  Micha was awarded a $20 Woodstock Downtown Gift Certificate from TPG Keller Williams as well as a gift from the PTA.  Congratulations, you are a shining star FIREBIRD! 

The latest issue of our CCSD Connections parent newsletter is online now: https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/newsletter Thanks to Credit Union of Georgia for its sponsorship! #CCSDfam

IKES 3rd grade students celebrated Colonial Day by taking a trip back in time. A speaker from the Sons of the American Revolution spoke about the 13 colonies. Also, students made homemade biscuits and butter, reenacted a New England Reader's Theater using green screen app, completed a Canvas Webquest, and played colonial games. 

The Superintendent of Schools has determined the February Break will be a full week-long break for students.

Due to a mild winter so far, resulting in the need to close schools for only one full day, coupled with positive long-range forecasts, all CCSD schools will be closed Monday, Feb. 18, through Friday, Feb. 22, for the student holiday.  CCSD central offices will remain open as previously scheduled.       

Due to forecasts for possible inclement weather tomorrow, all CCSD schools and offices will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. We will continue to monitor conditions tomorrow to determine if further action is needed. Updates will be posted & emailed to parents. How do we decide? Learn more here (https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/school-closure-decision-process). #SafeCherokee 

Our IKES Firebirds are 100 days smarter!!  Check out our Kindergarten students and teachers who aged overnight! 

The Superintendent of Schools will make an announcement by Jan. 31 as to whether classes will be held during the last three days of February Break.

As you know, schools are scheduled to be closed on Monday, Feb. 18, and Tuesday, Feb. 19 for student holidays.  The CCSD school calendar designates Wednesday, Feb. 20, through Friday, Feb. 22, as possible school holidays or inclement weather make-up days.

The Cherokee County School District will host its annual job fair on March 2 for hiring new teachers, bus drivers and school nutrition workers!

The fair is from 9 a.m. to noon at River Ridge High School in Woodstock, and offers job candidates the opportunity to meet CCSD and school leaders.  Candidates not only will have the opportunity to introduce themselves, but also the chance to ask questions.

The Cherokee County School District is opening online registration for kindergarten beginning Jan. 22!

The new online system introduced last year allows parents to log in from home to the Registration Gateway via CCSD’s website at www.cherokeek12.net instead of handwriting information on a pile of paper forms in a school office.  

If you heard cheering last Friday, that was just our IKES Firebirds celebrating during our house meeting! We cheered on our fellow firebirds' accomplishments including perfect attendance, all A honor roll, and Pride of the Flock classroom winners. Congratulations to the HAWK GREEN BIRD HOUSE and the Pride of the Knoll, Everrett Smith in Dr. Latimer's 3rd Grade classroom. We take pride in recognizing the efforts of our students for outstanding behavior, attendance, and academic excellence! #IKESrocks

Want to see more pictures? Click on the Photo Gallery on our website to view photos. 

Open enrollment for the Cherokee County School District’s Georgia Lottery Pre-K Classes program begins in February for an earlier start to the annual process.
 
The earlier start, which has been moved up from the spring, will provide parents more time to seek other preschool options should their 4-year-old not win a spot in the lottery drawing for the program’s limited seats.
 
Classes will be offered at: Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy, R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy and Johnston ES Preschool Center.
 
Parents can apply between 8 a.m. and noon on Mondays through Fridays from Monday, Feb. 4, through Friday, March 1, at the participating schools as noted above.  Names will be drawn at 3 p.m. on March 6 to fill available spaces.  

The Cherokee County School District presents an annual Agency Information Fair for parents, grandparents, teachers and caregivers to learn more about services in the community for children with special needs. This year's free event is on March 21. Please see the flier posted online here for more info, as well as this list of participating organizations.

The latest issue of our CCSD Connections parent newsletter is online now: https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/newsletter Thanks to Credit Union of Georgia for its sponsorship! #CCSDfam

Congratulations to 5^th Grade Teacher Dr. Katie Smith the Indian Knoll Elementary School Employee of the Month for December, 2018.  Katie is a teacher leader who co-sponsors the Jr. Beta Club and serves as the school Cherokee County Service League representative.  Outside of school she also serves on the Cherokee County Service League Board and commits her time and talents to helping residents with specific needs. Dr. Smith is best known for her warm heart, passion for education, and ability to accommodate for every learner. Dr. Smith was recognized at the IKES Believes program where the students donated toys to Must Ministries and sang holiday songs. Dr. Smith received a $20 gift certificate and a goodie bag from the IKES PTA.  We applaud her service to the school and the district. #CCSDfam #IKESRocks

Our Dino-Mite Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that provides a wonderful selection of books that kids want to read.  At the book fair, you'll find engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Reading for pleasure inside and outside of school has real and long-lasting benefits. All purchases benefit our school. See you at the book fair!

Students from Indian Knoll Elementary School competed in the Piedmont Regional Technology Competition on December 15.  Participating students created a technology-based project in categories such as 3D modeling, digital game design, and robotics.  Of the 32 Indian Knoll students who competed, 23 of them earned first, second, or third place.  Our 12 first place winners will represent Cherokee County at the Georgia Student Technology Competition in Macon on March 19.

Sequoyah High School Principal Mr. Robert Van Alstyne is meeting with all middle and elementary feeder schools and building relationships throughout the Sequoyah Innovation Zone. Along with student leaders, he is sharing his vision for goal setting and a focus on earning a high school diploma. This week, he met with Indian Knoll fifth graders who are the class of 2026 and recognized four students for their outstanding character and academic achievements. Anjali Gavalas, Riley O’Neil, Lila Jacobs and Asher Bennett were given “honor” stoles to inspire them to continue to dream big.

Due to forecasted icy road conditions, all CCSD schools and offices will operate on a 2-hour delay Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. Buses will pick up 2 hours late; school will end on time. We will closely monitor conditions overnight to determine if further action is needed.  Updates will be shared on our website and social media, and by email to parents.  How do we decide? Learn more here (https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/school-closure-decision-process). #SafeCherokee 

Our mighty Firebirds performed for Principals and District Administrators today under the direction of Music Teacher Julie Bryant and assistant director Barbara Haley. What a great way to start the holiday season. They did a wonderful job and proudly represented IKES today. 

Third grade teacher, Dr. Mandy Latimer was named the Indian Knoll Employee of the Month for November.  She is a teacher leader who takes on many additional duties and responsibilities for her team, the school, and the district. Dr. Latimer serves as the EXP tutoring administrator and represents IKES in the CCSD Teacher Leader Academy. She redelivers math curriculum information to the staff, schedules field trips for the third-grade team, and leads the Hospitality Committee.  Mandy also supports the community and serves as a liaison for Bees Knees food delivery.  Most importantly, she is a nurturing and dedicated teacher who provides rigorous and meaningful instruction to her students every day!  We appreciate Dr. Latimer and congratulate her as she represents IKES this month.

Cherokee County School District middle and high schools will have an early release day on Dec. 21, as students begin their winter holiday break.

On Friday, Dec. 21, all CCSD high schools and middle schools will dismiss on a half-day schedule, with buses departing early.  Elementary school dismissal is not affected and will remain 2:15 p.m.  Preschool program dismissal also is not affected.  The After School Program will not be offered at CCSD elementary schools.

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, approved its annual Legislative Partnership Program outlining requests for the local Legislative Delegation’s consideration during the upcoming session, and local control topped the list. 

2018 IKES Holiday Shop is coming the first week in December! Students love the annual tradition of picking small gifts for friends and love ones. Look for more information from your child's teacher on the date/time their class will shop. If you have the capacity, we are always seeking volunteers to work in the holiday shop helping students select gifts. Please register to volunteer at 2018 IKES Holiday Shop Volunteer sign-up.

Mrs. Rein's class collected the most plastic bags at Indian Knoll for the plastic bag competition! Way to go Mrs. Rein's class! 

The Cherokee County School District is focused on further improving suicide prevention training for its staff and offering more support to students in need.

This important issue long has been a part of professional development for staff, but CCSD is increasing its training and programs in response to the national rise in teen suicide rates, as well as the tragic deaths of students, teachers and parents in the community.

Reporting safety concerns to the Cherokee County School District now is easier than ever with the roll-out of a new smartphone app!
 
The School District in August launched the new SafeSchools Alert system, which allows students, parents, school staff and everyone in the community to report safety concerns to CCSD School Police and administrators by text, email, online message or phone call, with the option to do so anonymously.  To further increase accessibility, the system now includes a new smartphone app, which can be downloaded at no cost.  

Cherokee County School District schools have earned high ratings for cultivating a positive school climate! 
 
The District earned a 4-star average on the 5-star scale in the Georgia Department of Education’s annual ratings, which measure how a community views the quality of its school’s culture and character; the highest possible rating is 5 stars.  The rating is based on a survey of students, parents and teachers; student discipline issue rates; and daily attendance.
 

Congratulations to Indian Knoll Elementary School kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Whitney Tippens. Mrs. Tippens is named our October Employee of the Month due to her conscientious efforts to provide exemplary instruction to her students. She works with our kindergarten students and meets every child's need on a daily basis. Mrs. Tippens is extremely organized, and provides a warm environment for her students. The IKES PTA and partner in education, TPG at Keller Williams provided her with a gift certificate and other goodies at the last faculty meeting.  We celebrate Ms. Tippens this month and all year long for the wonderful job she does.

The Cherokee County School District and Georgia Bureau of Investigation next week will co-host a summit on youth suicide prevention.

The Cherokee County Youth Suicide Prevention Summit, which is open to the public, is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5, at the Cherokee County Conference Center at 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton 30114. 

Going once, going twice, gone! Your bid can be the winning one at CCSD’s annual surplus equipment auction, which is open to the public, and begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the CCSD Central Warehouse (201 Mountain Brook Court, Canton, 30115). The sale preview starts at 7:30 a.m. More information is listed on the auctioneer's website: http://jeffdobson.com/  Look for the "Upcoming Auctions" heading.

The Transition Academy helps young adults with cognitive disabilities make a smooth transition into the community after they exit the school system.

We celebrated the 50th day of school here at IKES! Students dressed in fifties attire to celebrate being 50 days smarter! #IKESRocks

Our first quarter Bird House Celebration was a HIT! IKES recognized students with perfect attendance, outstanding behavior, and school pride! Our bird house with the most Dojo points schoolwide was the BLUE EAGLES!!! The blue eagles were invited to the very first house carnival! Do you want to see pictures of all the fun? Check out our Photo Gallery on our webpage under the parents section. 

Thanks to the support of partner Northside Hospital Cherokee, the Cherokee County School District received EpiPens at no cost for all of its schools!  The cost of the pens – auto-injectors that can be life-saving in cases of serious allergic reaction - was waived by manufacturer, Mylan, as part of its EpiPen4Schools program.  CCSD’s participation in the program was made possible by NHC Dr. Matthew Simmons, who wrote prescriptions for each school’s clinic. 

More Cherokee County School District Class of 2018 students took the ACT exam than any previous class, while maintaining impressive averages and exceeding National and State averages!

Results released today show the Class of 2018 posted an excellent overall score of 23, while a record number took the challenging college entrance and placement examination: 1,809 students -- an 11-percent increase from the previous year.  The score ranks CCSD third among metro Atlanta counties and seventh in Georgia – out of 180 school districts!

The Cherokee County School District next week will host a PTA-sponsored program for parents on drug addiction and prevention with guest speakers including Cherokee Sheriff Frank Reynolds.

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating National School Lunch Week next week with special entrees!

The National School Lunch Program serves 30 million children every day, and this year’s celebration theme, “Lots 2 Love,” encourages students and school nutrition professionals to share what they love most about school lunch.

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office is seeking more dedicated crossing guards to protect our students and keep traffic moving safely around our schools! #SafeCherokee

"Go BIG or go home...." Our Teacher of the Year, Patti Nations was the hit of the SHS Homecoming Parade! Mrs. Nations, IKES staff, and her students enjoyed celebrating her BIG day in a BIG way! We ROCKED the parade. #CCSDRocks

Thank you CCEF for bringing the Waffle House food truck to Indian Knoll! It was delicious and so much fun!

Special thanks to River Ridge High School for hosting the CCSD Special Olympics this year! Our IKES student athletes were sent off in fashion with a school-wide parade and celebration! Our Firebirds made signs and cheered on Mrs. Pepper's class before they boarded the bus this morning. In addition, we appreciate our Friends Club students for assisting with this very special day! We all had a fabulous time!#CCSDfam #IKESRocks

Express Gateway update portal, the online system for parents to change phone, email or important information for students, is now available. 

CCSD is participating in Georgia’s Farm to School month celebration with special menu items including a Kickin’ it with Kale salad on Wednesday!  

The fresh kale, cranberry and apple salad will be available throughout CCSD cafeterias as a side choice at lunch on Wednesday, with students encouraged to try kale, a vegetable that may be new to them. 

IKES Fundraiser is October 1st to the 16th! Packets were sent home Monday, October 1st and are due October 16th! 

Our September IKES Employee of the Month is Early Intervention Program (EIP) teacher, Mrs. Terri Harris. She is a teacher leader who takes initiative and always goes “above and beyond” for our IKES students. Terri works in a variety of classrooms and is very productive.  Mrs. Harris is student focused and prides herself in creating engaging and hands-on activities for her students. In addition to outstanding and meaningful instruction, Terri leads the school math committee.  She develops and implements many incentives for student success. Mrs. Harris was awarded a gift from the IKES PTA and a Woodstock Downtown Gift Certificate from business partner Keller Williams-TPG. We value Mrs. Harris and are excited to celebrate her commitment to IKES this month. Congratulations! 

Kindergarten community helpers marched through the hallways of IKES! Check out these future leaders! 

The Cherokee County School District’s graduation rate has reached a new high, with 87.4% of the Class of 2018 earning a diploma within four years of entering high school.

The Cherokee County School District for the second consecutive year has earned Georgia’s top honor for preparing and serving fresh, healthy meals to students!

CCSD’s School Nutrition program, which serves 5 million meals each year in school cafeterias, earned the Golden Radish Award at the Platinum Level from the Georgia’s Departments of Agriculture, Public Health, Education and Georgia Organics.

Indian Knoll's Music teacher, Mrs. Bryant is amazing. Here is a glimpse into her fourth grade class: 

Fourth graders are playing instruments from treble staff notation and learning how to read music! 

Everyone knows we have the BEST Media Specialist in Georgia; after all, she IS the Georgia Media Specialist of the Year! Check out what is happening in the Media Center! 

Third grade students practiced using Destiny Discover (our online library catalog) to search for books and then used the call number to locate the books on the shelf.  Students demonstrated that they found the books by taking “shelfies” and uploading them to the Seesaw app!  Our third graders can use the media center independently now!

Kim Brown is the Indian Knoll Employee of the Month for August!  Mrs. Brown leads our Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program and has worked very hard with the Spark Committee to kick off the new year.  She assisted with new school signage, organized the first student assembly, and was instrumental with ordering and distribution of all the students’ house t-shirts.  The IKES PTA and TPG Keller Williams sponsors this monthly award and provided Kim with a $20.00 gift certificate to downtown Woodstock and other treats. We appreciate her willingness to always go the extra mile, her dedication to the school, and the leadership she demonstrates.

Indian Knoll Elementary School first grader Kaden Cook was surprised by his father on September 4^th, 2018 when he arrived unexpectedly in his classroom.  Army Sergeant Eric Cook is on his second tour of duty in Iraq and was granted a brief leave before he returns to finish out his last nine months in Iraq. Kaden’s mother Jessica Hill and father Sgt. Eric Cook joined him for lunch at the school. Kaden was ecstatic to see his father and to be able to eat lunch with him. Indian Knoll is a school community that is known for their commitment to honor the military and veterans throughout the year.  We thank Sergeant Cook for his bravery and service to our country today and throughout the year!

Applications for free and reduced-price meals must be completed every school year under Federal guidelines.  If your student was approved for free of reduced-price meals last school year, the approval has been extended for the first 30 operating days of the school year.  Previous year meal benefits will expire on Sept. 12, 2018 unless a new application is received.

Our firebirds have been teambuilding in STEM with Mrs. Wos!

Congratulations to this year's Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Patti Nations! Mrs. Nations teaches kindergarten at IKES, and she is an impeccable eductor! 

CCSD's Office of Safety & Security, in collaboration with Cherokee County Office of Fire & Emergency Services and Woodstock Fire Department, is sponsoring a districtwide fire safety contest for students!

National Fire Prevention Week is October 7–13, 2018, and the theme is: “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.”

Friday, September 7^th (Last Names A-L) 

Monday, September 10^th (Last Names M-z)

7:00-8:00 AM

Students can enjoy donuts and juice with their grandparents!  Lifetouch will also be here for pictures.  

Indian Knoll has the best art teacher around, Mrs. Norton! Check out our Firebird Artists! 

Our next Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the media center from September 7 through 14!  The theme is “Enchanted Forest Book Fair: Let Your Imagination Grow!” 

Here are our hours of operation.

Thursday, September 6: teacher preview 2:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. 

Friday, September 7: open 7:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Monday, September 10: open 7:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Tuesday, September 11: open 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 

Wednesday, September 12: open 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. 

Thursday, September 13: open 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 

Friday, September 14: open 8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. 

September 7 – 19: order online at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/indianknollelementaryschool3

Our book fair will need lots of volunteers to be a success!  Please contact our media specialist Jennifer Lewis at jennifer.lewis@cherokeek12.net if you are interested in helping.

Curriculum Nights

August 20, 2018 - 1st, 3rd, and 4th - 6:30-7:15

August 21, 2018 - 2nd and 5th - 6:30-7:15

Indian Knoll Elementary School students had a great summer at the Sequoyah Regional Library System!  With school support and encouragement, 33 IKES children participated in reading this summer through “Libraries Rock!” Summer Reading Program 2018! 

Our IKES  students have been so enthusiastic, and have really enjoyed being at the library this summer. We are very proud of these super Firebird readers and have acknowledged their achievement on the morning news and with a small goodie bag.

IKES Media Specialist Jennifer Lewis and Principal Kim Cerasoli are excited to promote the Sequoyah Summer Reading Program and look forward to a continued partnership!

The Spirit Rock is a great way to send a message for all to see! Paint the Spirit Rock to celebrate birthdays, recognize achievements or offer well wishes and words of support!

If you are interested in volunteering here at IKES, please see guidelines and complete required paperwork. 

Exhilarating describes our first Friday at IKES as each class learned what bird house they will represent for the 18-19 school year! Students will be earning points for their house by displaying positive behavior and following our schoolwide positive behavior matrix. All students will receive a t-shirt displaying his/her birdhouse.

Please see the following message to parents from Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower:

Today, we found silver linings in our rain clouds. 

No one wants to hear a forecast for rain on the first day of school.  It soaks those new school clothes and backpacks, but, of greater importance, it also makes the morning traffic more challenging and dangerous.

Our teachers and leaders carried on, many getting drenched as they greeted car riders in the process, but remaining enthusiastic and welcoming.  And you carried on, too, and we appreciate the patience and kindness you showed, especially as buses were slowed by the rain and car rider lines grew long.

We need your help in spreading an important message as our students head back to school: #SafeCherokee  Please check out this brief video - http://bit.ly/CCSDSafeCherokee - featuring Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower and Cherokee Sheriff Frank Reynolds, and a united force of our community’s law enforcement and public safety officers and first-responders. 

CCSD School Nutrition staff are ready to welcome students to the cafeteria and help them understand how the cafeteria line and cashier process works!  

You can view the brief video here: http://bit.ly/CCSDcafeteria  The video also features useful information for parents.  

Meet one of IKES incredible teachers, Micha Guice!

For the fourth consecutive year, Cherokee County School District students exceeded State averages on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests!  CCSD has exceeded State averages every year since the tests that measure mastery of Georgia Performance Standards began.

“We are focused on increasing students’ mastery of the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in college, career and life,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “These Milestones results show our students and teachers are consistently and successfully getting the job done.  I’m so proud of them, their families and our partners and volunteers -- we’re in this together with the same goal: making our community’s future the best it can be.”     

How many students are expected in CCSD schools this school year?

How many new teachers will be in the classrooms?

Who is my new Principal?

Find the answers to these questions and many more in the 2018-19 First Day Facts publication, which shares new information about the upcoming school year.

The Cherokee County School District today launches its Back-to-School Gateway, an online system designed to reduce paper waste and wasting parents’ valuable time!

The Back-to-School Gateway is a paperless, online registration system for students already enrolled in CCSD schools that replaces the dreaded stack of “first-day forms” with a quick digital check and update of students’ existing contact and emergency notification information in CCSD’s records system. 

The Cherokee County School District is expanding to all schools its system that allows parents to track their child’s school bus on a smart phone or computer!

The Transportation Department began testing the Versatrans My Stop system last school year, and after a successful pilot, the system will be available to all CCSD parents beginning July 30 – just in time for the first day of school on Aug. 1.

The Cherokee County School District will begin offering students and parents a closer look at school cafeteria menus this school year with the new MealViewer To Go app and website.

The system, which launches today, not only lists what’s on the breakfast and lunch menu each day, but includes photos and nutritional information.  The menu for the first day of school is available now through MealViewer, with more menus, photos and nutritional information being added daily in preparation for the start of school.

The Cherokee County School District is adding an expanded system for reporting safety concerns!

The SafeSchools Alert system will allow students, parents, school staff and everyone in the community to anonymously report safety concerns by text, email, online message or phone call.  This system will replace the previous anonymous tip hotline.

CCSD Farm to School program wins kudos

Indian Knoll's Jennifer Lewis is the 2018 Library Media Specialist of the Year for Georgia

CCSD school nurses and Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services trained more than 300 school employees on how to stop severe bleeding in a victim.

Field Day Week:  May 7th-11th!

Monday, 5/7:  K and 1st

Tuesday, 5/8:  2nd

Wednesday, 5/9:  3rd

Thursday, 5/10:  4th

Friday, 5/11:  5th