MyConnection APRIL 27, 2016
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Published every Wednesday by The Newnan Times-Herald
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Chromebooks for Students STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 TO BE ISSUED LAPTOPS NEXT YEAR
other schools. There also are plans to update teacher and administrator computer workstations. “We still run a lot of equipment off our teacher workstations,” such as projectors, Barker By W. WINSTON SKINNER said. winston@newnan.com Olvey is “getting several quotes Coweta students in third grade and and competitive prices” from companies that provide the laptop computup will be issued something new, a Chromebook, during the first semes- ers, Barker said. A goal is getting “curb service” with the computter of the 2016-2017 school term. ers being leased and the company Plans for the project were providing pickup of a unit needing explained at the Coweta County repair and, at the same time, swapBoard of Education’s monthly meetping a working Chromebook for the ing. The Chromebook project will inoperable one. cost $6.3 million with funds coming “In another couple of years, I from Special Purpose Local Option believe the devices will cost about Sales Tax coffers. what a single textbook costs,” Barker Educational materials, includsaid, adding the system “can levering textbooks, can be downloaded age multiple textbooks” through the so that students and parents can retrieve them. Leaders in the Coweta Chromebooks. Barker told the school board that system, like those in school systems bids for the Chromebook project may across the country, are hoping they be ready as early as the May board ultimately can cut textbook costs by meeting. He said the computers will having them provided to students not be in all students’ hands the first electronically. Issuing the Chromebooks “will day of school, but that he hoped all provide teachers with another tool,” 3rd-12th grade students would be Assistant Superintendent Marc issued one sometime during the first Guy said. semester. Dr. Steve Barker, the school super“There are several large systems intendent, said the Chromebook proj- who went to this two to three years ect is part of a three-year technology ago,” Barker said. Coweta officials plan created in 2014 by Jason Olvey, have been talking with their counterthe system’s information technology parts in some of those systems about director, “with the input of staff.” what did and did not work in an The overall plan also includes effort to smooth the rollout here. “a major upgrade of computer labs Barker said he also has talked with in our schools,” Barker said. Some schools already have updated labs, CHROMEBOOKS, page 3 and the process is in progress at
PHOTO BY BRADLEY HARTSELL
The 2015 R.A.C.E. raised funds to assist Wade and Brooke Williams from Fayetteville in their domestic adoption process. The couple was able to bring home a daughter from Florida.
2016 R.A.C.E. for the Orphans to Benefit Four Families By MAGGIE BOWERS maggie@newnan.com The Preston family nonprofit, Raising Awareness, Compassion and Education (RACE) for the orphans will award four families with proceeds from the fourth annual event which includes a 5K, a one-mile run and a Tot Trot. The RACE will take place on May 7 at the Coweta County Fairgrounds, located at 275 Pine Road, beginning with the Tot Trot at 8:15 a.m. Awareness has grown for orphan adoptions in Coweta County since the first RACE for the orphans was held in April 2013, and thankfully, so has the Preston family’s organization. The nonprofit serves to educate local families on international and state adoptions in addition
to raising money to help with the often costly process. The 2015 RACE brought nearly 400 participants and their families to the fairgrounds, raising $19,000 to assist Wade and Brooke Williams from Fayetteville in their domestic adoption process. The couple was able to bring home a daughter from Florida. In addition, a grant was awarded to Mark and Tiffany Jordan who were awaiting the arrival of Mia from China. According to Kelly Preston, the goal for the 2016 RACE is 500 participants. Preston announced recently that a total of four families will be awarded grants from this year’s proceeds. The 2016 RACE will benefit the Deavers family of LaGrange who are adopting Liam from China, the Moody family from Griffin who
are adopting Maddox, the Lewis family of Villa Rica who are adopting Hai from China, and the Owens family of Fayetteville who will be adopting a boy from Ethiopia. “We are thrilled beyond words to help support these families as they work to bring their children home,” Preston said in the email announcement. Online registration for the 2016 RACE for the orphans is available until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. at www.active.com. The cost for participation in the 5K is $25, the Tot Trot registration is $10 and the 1-mile Fun Run is $20. For more information regarding donations, sponsorship, registration or RACE for orphans details, visit the nonprofit online at www.racefortheorphans.org.
Winning Back
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FAMILY FEATURES
oms pride themselves on serving their families wholesome, homemade meals. But here’s the reality: 60 percent of moms think that coming up with dinner ideas is more difficult than getting their children to go to bed on time. Moreover, 61 percent of moms frequently order takeout or go out to eat because they don’t have the ingredients on-hand to make dinner. It’s time for a new strategy.
When it comes to mealtime, a wellstocked pantry can be the difference between culinary success and a dinner failure. With a pantry full of canned foods, a delicious and nutritious homemade meal is just minutes away. It’s no secret that canned foods are convenient, but did you know that cans are also one of the best ways to
WEEKNIGHT, page 4
Chicken Burrito Salad
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