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River Ridge High flag football team members, from left: Grace Hamrick, Penelope Newberry, Ryann Hutcheson, Haley Warholak, Shelby Carlson, Brooke Scepaniak, Zoey Myrick, Kathryn Hutchinson, Molly Hutchinson, Brenna Martin and Breona Holley.

Creekview High senior Sofia Jimenez and flag football Coach Elyse Szczepanski.

Flag Football Off to Fast Start in Cherokee

BY BARBARA P. JACOBY

Cherokee County School District’s Flag Football program scored big in its first official season as a statewide fully sanctioned competition sport.

Four Cherokee County School District (CCSD) high schools’ teams played in December in the first round of the state playoffs in the Georgia High Schools Association’s inaugural season for the sport: Cherokee, River Ridge, Woodstock and Sequoyah. In fact, Sequoyah not only

qualified, the team also won the Area 6 title! Cherokee, Sequoyah and Woodstock advanced to the Sweet 16 round.

Tonya Sebring, the school district’s supervisor of student activities and athletics, led the charge to kick off the sport in the county, with a clublevel season held last school year. Only six school districts in Georgia — including Cherokee County — participated in this test run. Our county’s flag football league received financial assistance from the Atlanta Falcons organization and the Arthur Blank Foundation, and won over a new fan base in the community. This sponsorship covered fees for referees, field costs, jerseys, equipment, athletic trainers, administrator fees and coaching stipends for participating districts.

Sequoyah team members show off their medals.

“I am excited to see these programs build on what they started at the club level last season. The league was a huge success and a catalyst for sanctioning the sport by GHSA,” Sebring said. “Flag football is up and coming in our state, and our CCSD teams have played an integral part in the GHSA sanctioning of the sport.”

All six CCSD high schools field teams of 20-30 players for the 7-on-7 format, which is played on a regular football field with slightly altered dimensions. Last season, 50 teams played within their own counties, with the county champions eligible to compete in a state championship game at MercedesBenz Stadium. Sequoyah won the county championship last season and played in the state semifinals. More than 100 teams played against schools from their GHSA division in the fall of 2020, with the opportunity for area and state championships.

“Seeing the positive influence this sport has on the players and the community is inspiring. The girls stand tall with pride and enthusiasm while receiving recognition from their families and friends in the stands,” said Amanda Dinkel, manager of community relations for the Atlanta Falcons. “We see the organic growth of the sport through their desire to play, and we are honored to have brought this opportunity to our communities, and hope to continue this forward momentum, bringing the sport to other states.”

The coaches of the CCSD teams are: Thomas Stringfellow at Cherokee; Elyse Szczepanski at Creekview; Amanda Massey at Etowah; Mark Lewis at River Ridge; Emily Ryan at Sequoyah, and Pete Manderano at Woodstock.

CCSD Superintendent Brian V. Hightower is a big fan of the flag football program and loves to cheer on the student athletes.

“We’re so proud of our outstanding players and their coaches, and are deeply grateful for the sponsors, boosters and parent volunteers who have helped make the program so successful,” he said. “We can’t wait for next season, as we know this sport will continue to grow and provide more of our female student athletes with opportunities to play, learn and succeed.”

Barbara P. Jacoby serves as chief communications officer for the Cherokee County School District, and is a CCSD parent with four children.

A Bright Start for Little Learners

BY BARBARA P. JACOBY

The Cherokee County School District (CCSD) offers three preschool programs to serve our community’s littlest learners. The CCSD Preschool Program includes three tuition-free, accredited programs: Georgia Lottery Pre-K, Head Start and Special Education Preschool. All CCSD preschool students enjoy a day of learning and fun in a class led by a certified teacher with a paraprofessional assistant. They prepare for kindergarten with lessons on shapes, colors, letters and numbers; art, music and science hands-on activities; and learn to use a computer and tablet. Learning through play is an important part of every day with indoor centers and outdoor playground time, as is developing routines and understanding how to make friends and cooperate with others. The programs are overseen by Principal Debbie Ritter and Assistant Principal Angela Moody. Special Education Preschool begins on a child’s third birthday, which allows for a seamless transition from the state’s Babies Can’t Wait program. In addition

Dr. Brian Hightower meets a preschooler in the Georgia Lottery Pre-K program at R.M. Moore. Preschoolers at the Ralph Bunche Center in Canton enjoy time outdoors.

to regular preschool curriculum, students receive individualized services to meet their needs, such as speech, occupational and physical therapy, and have the option of riding a special education school bus. This program is at Ralph Bunche Center in Canton, Holly Springs Preschool Center at Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy, Johnston Preschool Center at Johnston Elementary School in Woodstock, and Oak Grove Preschool at Oak Grove Elementary Fine Arts Academy in southwest Cherokee. More details about the program and the special education assessment process, which can evaluate your child if you’re concerned about developmental milestones, are online at https://bit.ly/CCSDspecialpre. Head Start offers families who meet income eligibility requirements the opportunity to begin their child’s education early, with classes for 3- and 4-year-olds that follow the same hours as elementary school. Parents drop off and pick up on a car-rider schedule, and students receive free breakfast and lunch. This program is at Johnston Preschool Center and Ralph Bunche Center. Enrollment opens in late winter/ early spring with details posted at www.cherokeek12.net. The Georgia Lottery Pre-K program is offered at Ball Ground Elementary STEM Academy, Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy, Oak Grove Elementary Fine Arts Academy, R.M. Moore Elementary STEM Academy, Johnston Elementary Preschool Center and Ralph Bunche Center. The program serves children who will be 4 on or before Sept. 1 of the school year for which they are enrolling. Since capacity is limited by state funding, CCSD uses a lottery drawing to determine enrollment. Applications are accepted from February to early March, with the lottery drawing in mid-March. Priority is given to students who live in the elementary school’s attendance area. Enrollment details are announced on www.cherokeek12.net. More information, including center addresses and phone numbers, is at https://bit.ly/CCSDpreschool.

Barbara P. Jacoby serves as chief communications officer for the Cherokee County School District, and is a CCSD parent with four children.