School News

Johnston Preschool Center staff pose with the check for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Johnston Preschool Staff Honors Special Education Facilitator

Johnston Preschool Center staff recently designed and organized a T-shirt sale to support stomach cancer awareness, and to honor Dee Chance, a special education facilitator who lost her battle with stomach cancer earlier this year. The proceeds from the sale were donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Chance.

Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Education Foundation Awards Grants

Justin Bolsen, Callahan Pace and Benjamin Webster of Creekview High; Rachel Kim of River Ridge High; Riley Hartman and Wesley Lanter of Sequoyah High, and Leo Blatnik of Woodstock High have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. Less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors earn the title.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation oversees the competition, and named 16,000 semifinalists, who were chosen from 1.5 million students based on exceptional 2020 PSAT scores.

After the next level of competition, which includes students earning SAT scores that confirm their PSAT performance, National Merit will announce the 15,000 finalists. The finalists will compete for 7,500 scholarships, worth approximately $30 million, to be awarded in the spring.

Rachel Kim Riley Hartman

Melissa Venezia was awarded $1,200 for her rapid grant request to provide sheltered instruction observation protocol training for teachers at E.T. Booth Middle School, thanks to a generous partnership between Cherokee County Education Foundation (CCEF) and Georgia Power. This specialized training will empower and equip the teachers of E.T. Booth to accelerate learning for English language learners.

David Martinez, a Cherokee County School District (CCSD) itinerant adapted physical educator and member of the department of special education, requested funding in collaboration with Michael L’Esperance and Tara Forrester, Woodstock Elementary School physical education teachers. This funding has been granted for creating a sensory spot in the Woodstock Elementary gymnasium.

If you are a member of the CCSD faculty and would like to apply for Rapid Grant funding from CCEF, visit https://bit.ly/2WssLwx.

Students Eligible to Earn AP Capstone Diploma

Beginning this school year, Sequoyah High School students are eligible to earn the AP Capstone Diploma. River Ridge High School students will be eligible to earn this recognition beginning in the 2022-23 school year.

AP Capstone is a two-year, projectbased learning program designed to help students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration and presentation skills that are critical to academic success. The program, which is offered in fewer than 100 high schools, was developed by The College Board in partnership with colleges and universities.