Indian Knoll Elementary School News

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!

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. 10, 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/

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@cherokee.k12.ga.us 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.

Class schedules/teacher assignments will be available at each school’s scheduled open house/walk-through event.  These events are July 26-31.

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