School News

School News Bells Ferry Student Named Emerson Charitable Trust Hometown Hero Donates STEM Programs The SagerStrong Foundation recently announced that Bells Ferry Elementary student Jensen

Emerson Commercial and Residential Oliver won its Hometown Hero Solutions has supported STEM programs Award. As the winner, Oliver in Cobb Schools for the past two years. The will receive a $3,500 scholarship Jensen Oliver Emerson Charitable Trust recently donated award, made possible through a $15,000 to support teacher professional donation from Rand Refrigeration and individual donors. learning in STEM, as well as student Oliver is a pediatric cancer patient, who is thriving through competitions, in Cobb Schools. her fight with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Diagnosed

There are plans to expand the partnership with ALL in 2017, Oliver continues to fight hard and endure her beyond financial support and develop treatment with great strength and determination. She will soon educational resources that teach students graduate from treatment to the survivor’s program at Children’s about the work done by Emerson, which Healthcare of Atlanta. is responsible for ensuring food safety for The SagerStrong Foundation Hometown Hero Award annually grocery stores and restaurants through honors a pediatric leukemia patient, who embodies everything the refrigeration monitoring services and more. SagerStrong Foundation stands for, including perseverance, strength These resources and data would show Cobb and courage. The program was created in Craig Sager’s memory to students what STEM innovation looks like inspire and lift up young patients in their fight, so they know that in the real world. they have so many others fighting in their corner.

Publix Donates to Students and Teachers

Publix Super Markets recently named the Cobb Schools Foundation a recipient of the Tools for Schools campaign. Last week, Bruce Humphries, district manager of Publix Atlanta Central West Region, and two local store managers delivered more than $125,000 in gift cards for Cobb students and teachers.

Out of the approximately 107,000 students who are enrolled in the Cobb County School District’s 112 schools, more than 40% are considered economically disadvantaged. The gift cards donated by Publix will go directly toward supporting the needs of those students and teachers.

The Cobb Schools Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the philanthropic arm for the school district that focuses on family stabilization, learning interventions, scholarships and career development for students.

Publix managers present a donation to Cobb Schools Foundation representatives.

Cobb Expands Online Learning

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced that families again will have an opportunity to choose the learning environment that best supports the needs of their student(s). During the lottery window, which will open in midto-late October, Cobb families will be able to apply for expanded openings in the Cobb Online Learning Academy and Elementary Virtual Program, which will begin in January 2022 (the start of the second semester).

Spots in the expanded online programs will be limited, and they will be selected through the lottery by mid-to-late November. Keep a lookout for more information about the expanded programs, as well as how families can apply, on the Cobb County Schools Facebook page and www.cobbk12.org.

Bus driver Revay Shaw surprises his students with Italian ice.

Big Shanty Bus Driver Surprises Students

Big Shanty Intermediate School bus driver Revay Shaw rewarded students with a special treat. Shaw hired a local business, Little Jimmy’s Italian Ices, to bring treats for the students, because they have been so great on the bus this year. His students were overjoyed by the surprise, and they showed their appreciation with lots of cheering and fist bumps.

Big Shanty named Shaw the school’s Eagle of the Week for going above and beyond showing his gratitude for his students. Bus drivers are the first face many students see each day. From their seat behind the wheel, they welcome the students to a new day of learning. Some sing along with their students on the bus ride. Some tell stories. Others chat with the students about their day and share special surprises with their passengers.

Free Online Tutoring for Cobb Students

Cobb students have access to free tutors, whether they need a little extra help while participating in digital learning, or want to increase their success in face-to-face learning.

Tutor ATL, a free program, is available virtually through the Cobb County Public Library system, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. The one-on-one and on-demand tutors provide assistance to K-12 students. Expert tutors provide help in more than 50 subjects, interactive workspaces and bilingual offerings.

Those interested can visit TutorATL.org. Cobb students will use their Cobb County Public Library PASS account by logging in with their student number. The password is their birthday (2-digit month and 2-digit day).

Cobb SAT Scores Lead Georgia

Despite the challenges related to the pandemic, Cobb County students and teachers remained focused on academics. As a result, the Cobb Schools Class of 2021 posted an average SAT score of 1150 out of 1600 points, which tops all other large districts in Georgia, and is 43 points higher than the 2020 district average.

Cobb students also continue to outpace their state peers, who earned an average SAT score of 1077, more than 70 points below Cobb students. The next-closest large district in Georgia trailed Cobb students by more than 20 points. Cobb students outperformed the national average of 1038 by 112 points.