School News

Girls Golf Team Wins State Championship

The Creekview High School girls golf team won the two-day Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Golf State Championship in the 6A division. It was the first time a girls golf team from Cherokee County has taken the state title.

Samantha Buchberger, Makena Dubois, Lindsay Wayland and Nicole Gerthing played two rounds, supported by Coach Casey Gramling. They defeated the defending state champions, Johns Creek, by 10 shots, and were 26 shots clear of third-place Carrollton. Makena Dubois was named all-state as a sophomore, and Lindsay Wayland was given an honorable mention as a junior.

The Creekview girls golf team shows off its GHSA Golf State Championship trophy.

3 Graduates Earn University Scholarships

Cherokee graduate Dylan Iovino, Etowah graduate Benjamin Willett and River Ridge graduate Audrey Norton, have won National Merit scholarships.

National Merit university and corporate scholarship winners are selected through review of academic records and college-entrance exam scores, leadership and service in their school and community, along with personal essays and letters of recommendation.

Only 15,000 of the nation’s top graduating seniors are eligible for the 3,300 National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. universities and colleges. The scholarships range from $500 and $2,000 annually, for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Iovino won a National Merit university scholarship from the University of Alabama. He served as the school’s academic bowl team captain and was in the Band of Warriors marching band and honor band, as well as the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

Willett won a National Merit university scholarship from the University of Georgia. A repeated state qualifier in swimming, he was a member of Etowah’s Eagle Connections group.

Norton won a National Merit corporate scholarship from Crum & Foster and plans to attend the University of North Carolina. She participated in the River Ridge marching band for four years and served her school and community.

Dylan Iovino From left, School Nutrition Director Tina Farmer and Culinary Specialist Jessica Emmett accept the sign celebrating the award.

School Nutrition Program Earns Top Honors

The Cherokee County School District School Nutrition Program earned top honors from the Georgia Department of Education (DOE). The program earned the state’s 2020 Vision District award in recognition of its outstanding efforts to use Georgia-grown foods in school cafeterias. The program has received numerous accolades for its farm-to-school initiative and collaboration with community partners including Cherokee County Farm Bureau.

“Your collaborative efforts have positively impacted our communities and students,” said Linette Dodson, Georgia DOE school nutrition program state director. “Congratulations on your success and being named a 2020 Vision District!”

From left, front row: Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Coordinator Krista Webb, Laura Jane Garrett, Madison Uren, Hallee Cloud and Career Tech Teacher Julie Coker; back row: Riley Shepard, Sophie Bentley, Kyla Standridge, Daisy Sisson, Rebekah Pratt and Principal Bob Eddy.

High Schools Celebrate Future Educators

Creekview and Woodstock held “signing day” events for graduating seniors, to celebrate those who plan to pursue teaching careers.

Creekview future educators include Laura Jane Garrett (Young Harris College), Madison Uren (University of Kentucky), Hallee Cloud (Kennesaw State University), Riley Shepard (University of North Georgia), Sophie Bentley (Kennesaw State University), Kyla Standridge (University of Georgia), Daisy Sisson (Freed-Hardeman University), Rebekah Pratt (Georgia Southwestern), and Savannah Hill (University of North Georgia).

Woodstock future educators are Kaydee Cohran, Lauren De Sanctis, Morgan LaPorta, Hattie Holloway, Sarah Holloway, Macy Hill, Emma Williams, Maddie Brown, Audrey Reecer, Jazlyn Saucedo, Lily Burlew, Hannah Emling, Kendall Reichman and Isabella Alfano.

R.M. Moore STEM Academy has earned national digital citizenship certification. The school has been named a Common Sense Certified School for Digital Citizenship by Common Sense Education, a national organization that helps educators teach students to understand and safely use technology, and to develop successful digital skills and habits.

Principal Abby May thanked media specialist Wendy Landry, who also earned individual certification, for organizing the school’s successful digital citizenship program and application. To earn certification, schools must demonstrate best practices for teaching students to think critically, and to use technology responsibly, including how to combat cyberbullying, understand privacy issues and avoid plagiarism.

Camille Janawitz

Graduate Presented With $1,500 Scholarship

Gamma Eta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization of active and retired female Cherokee County educators, presented Cherokee High graduate Camille Janawitz with its $1,500 college scholarship for future educators.

Janawitz was a member of the Cherokee High School Band of Warriors and served as a section leader during the 2020-21 school year. She has performed onstage in many of the school’s theater productions, and she also works in customer service at Publix.

Valedictorians, Salutatorians Celebrated at Banquet

The class of 2021 valedictorians and salutatorians were recognized at the 21st annual scholar recognition banquet. The special event was attended by the scholars and their parents, the teacher each scholar chose as the most influential in his or her education, high school principals, and school board and district representatives.

The students and teachers each gave a brief speech, and Hightower presented each student with an iPad, $50 gift card and plaque, and each teacher received a plaque and $100 gift card. The dinner and gifts were made possible by sponsor donations from LGE Community Credit Union, Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Poole’s Insulation Company and EyeMed.

“This has been a school year like no other, but you did not let the challenges stop you from reaching your goals,” Superintendent of Schools Brian V. Hightower said. “Congratulations! We’re so proud of you.”

Valedictorians: • Baker Brown, Cherokee • Nathan William Davis, Creekview • Analise Black, Etowah • Nicholas Audinet, River Ridge • Jeremy Jeong, Sequoyah • Elizabeth Lawrence, Woodstock

Salutatorians:

• Harrison Russ, Cherokee • Koryn Thanh Todd, Creekview • Sophia Stewart, Etowah • Aarya Kothari, River Ridge • Bradley Gordon, Sequoyah • Arnav Sharma, Woodstock

From left, front row: Baker Brown, Koryn Thanh Todd, Sophia Stewart, Aarya Kothari, Jeremy Jeong, Arnav Sharma; back row: Harrison Russ, Nathan William Davis, Analise Black, Nicholas Audinet, Bradley Gordon and Elizabeth Lawrence. Rylee Morris

Riley Turner

Grace Hanner

Coloring Contest Winners

Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority held a Drinking Water Week coloring contest, open to grades K-3. Homeschool students and 11 Cherokee County School District elementary schools participated, with nearly 1,000 entries. The winners are:

• Kindergarten

Avery Clanton, Johnston

• 1st grade

Mauvick Carlson, Arnold Mill

• 2nd grade

Rylee Morris, Clayton

Elementary

• 3rd grade, grand prize

Riley Turner, R.M. Moore

• 2nd grade honorable mention

Felicia Untung, Johnston

• 3rd grade honorable mention

Grace Hanner, homeschool,

Ball Ground