Cherokee County School District - GA

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: Vector Alert is CCSD’s system for reporting safety concerns: https://lnkd.in/eKRxeVv3 It allows students, parents, school staff and everyone in the community to anonymously report safety concerns by text, email, online message or phone call. Vector Alert is not for emergencies – please call 911 in emergencies. More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024 #CCSDElevateTheExcellence 

Cherokee County School District employees volunteered this weekend to support the community’s largest back-to-school program to support families in need. Give a Kid a Chance, a longtime grassroots event now organized by Revolution Church, a CCSD Partner, provides families the option to come to the church’s Canton campus or to Hillside Global Methodist Church in Woodstock for the special back-to-school giveaway. The free event provides Cherokee County students in pre-K through 12th-grade with backpacks and school supplies. The volunteers include many CCSD employees, from teachers to School Nutrition staff to bus drivers. Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis visited the event with her family to thank volunteers and the church leaders who organize the event. More information, including how to sign up to volunteer or to receive help next summer, is online at https://lnkd.in/eejJV6iM #CCSDElevateTheExcellence #CCSD1stDay2024 

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: The PTA offers CCSD parents the opportunity to support their child’s school through opportunities for volunteering and advocacy. PTA units will have information tables set up at open house/walk-through events; the schedule is online here: https://lnkd.in/ePtYuV4J Every school also has a PTA button on their website homepage that will lead you to more information. More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024 #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: Please review the updated Student Code of Conduct including new rules for appropriate use of cell phones and other personal smart devices at school. Students will continue to be permitted to have a cell phone or personal device with them at school, but as a standard practice, will now be expected to keep their device in silent mode and stored out of sight: https://lnkd.in/e3xkUcM4 More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024 #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: Please check the calendar for the upcoming school year so you’ll be aware of school holidays and breaks: https://lnkd.in/eAnExDnB The school board on Thursday approved calendars for the next three years, which you also can find on the same page for planning ahead. More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024 #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday accepted the retirement of a longtime district leader and approved two leadership appointments. CCSD Chief Information Officer Bobby Blount is retiring at the end of August after a 26-year career in education and was celebrated at the meeting with a standing ovation.  After working for 10 years in the private sector of the technology field, Mr. Blount joined CCSD in 1998 as technical services coordinator, advancing to supervisor and then director for technology and onto his current role leading the division in 2010. During his tenure as CIO, CCSD’s technology programs have earned numerous honors including the national District of Distinction for Educational Technology award, repeat honors as a Center for Digital Education’s Top 10 School District and numerous national Microsoft Showcase School awards. Dr. Julie Dutko was appointed to serve as CCSD’s new executive director for academics. A 20-year educator and past CCSD Game Changer Award recipient, she most recently served as the district’s supervisor for professional development.  Joy Silk was appointed to serve as CCSD’s new director for teaching and learning. A 24-year educator and past overall CCSD Teacher of the Year winner, she most recently served as the district’s supervisor for digital learning. Also on Thursday, Mike Saxton was named the new head boys basketball coach for Sequoyah HS. Coach Saxton joined SHS last school year as a computer science teacher and assistant coach. He previously taught and coached for nine years at Lambert and East Forsyth High Schools. PHOTOS From left, Dr. Julie Dutko, CCSD’s new executive director for academics; Joy Silk, CCSD’s new director for teaching and learning; and Coach Mike Saxton, the new head boys basketball coach for Sequoyah HS.  School Board member Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison congratulates retiring Chief Information Officer Bobby Blount.  #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

The Cherokee County School District has earned a record number of national awards for excellence in communications and public relations. The National School Public Relations Association annually honors the best publications and electronic media produced by school districts nationwide as part of their communications efforts.   The school district earned seven national awards in this year’s contest, which is judged by communications and public relations professionals. EXCELLENCE Magazine – for 2023-24 Class Act, the annual district magazine published at the start of the school year: https://lnkd.in/e63dw_bp Newsletter – for CCSD Connections, the monthly district email newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eSN5dH-V Writing – for CCSD 2024 Teacher of the Year finalist profiles: https://lnkd.in/eGaB3xBZ MERIT Handbook/Guide – for Focus on the Future, the high school Career Pathways course catalog: https://lnkd.in/ecdcrf8W Photography – for “Rocket Launch,” featured in the Class Act 2023-24 magazine: https://lnkd.in/e63dw_bp and posted with this news HONORABLE MENTION Financial Publication – for Financial Facts, the annual district report on the CCSD budget: https://lnkd.in/eJhXxZgz Newsletter - District Delegate, an internal monthly newsletter for CCSD employees The Office of Communications is made up of Chief Communications Officer Barbara Jacoby, Director Carrie McGowan, Coordinator Penny Dempsey and Administrative Assistant Anne Reed. A special thank-you to Enjoy Cherokee Magazine for its support in the publication of Class Act magazine. #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: School day start and end times are not changing for this school year. You can see the schedules at https://lnkd.in/evhjYa8J to plan your day. These schedules are helpful for everyone in the community to know as traffic is very heavy around our schools at these times. More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024

We greatly value the outstanding support staff in our schools and central office divisions, which is why we recognize them here. Please join us in congratulating the 2024 Support Staff Employee of the Year for Arnold Mill Elementary School: Alicia Perkins! #CCSDfam

Cherokee County School District leaders this week kicked off the new school year with the annual Superintendent’s Leadership Symposium professional development event. The annual all-day workshop, held this year at River Ridge HS, is a time for school principals, assistant principals and district leaders to review changes to district operations, hear remarks from the Superintendent of Schools, and learn and network with a focus on growing as leaders and improving CCSD together. Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis gave opening remarks focused on her “Elevate the Excellence” theme for the new school year and the four Key Priorities guiding the district’s improvement.  “We have a shared goal: to be the highest performing school district in the state of Georgia with more kids learning more on our watch than anywhere else. ‘Elevating the Excellence’ is a commitment to the process of getting better no matter where we are,” in the organization, she said. “This is our opportunity to refocus on what needs to happen in the classroom to have high quality student work.” The day’s meals and supplies were sponsored by CCSD Partners including Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Cherokee County Council of PTA, Credit Union of Georgia and Northside Hospital Cherokee. #CCSDElevateTheExcellence