Fall Break: a Good Time for Some Good News
Bring on the break!
We are TEN weeks into the school year…can you believe it?
The teachers are feeling it!
The students are feeling it!
And I know you parents are feeling it!
HAPPY FALL BREAK!!!
Rest a minute.
Breathe.
And relax.
Put that cell phone away.
Good news: The high school principals that I’ve talked to, have overwhelmingly been grateful for the new cell phone policy implemented by the Board of Education.
After so much noise was made with the Gwinnett County TOTY comments, our administration agreed with his sentiments and created a policy that keeps cell phone usage to a minimal. Phones are to be put away during class time and can only be used sparingly during class breaks and lunch periods. The policy alone has helped reshape our classrooms and caused our students to be more engaged with the teacher.
And as far as we can tell, it has also helped lessen classroom disturbances, fighting, and bullying referrals. If students are less attached (or addicted!) to their mobile devices, they are less likely to fall prey to the latest TikTok trends or Instagram fight pages.
Again, this new mobile phone policy has been a GREAT help to our administrators and teachers…and ultimately to our students.
More good news: the Newton County School graduation rate tops the state yet again. The state of Georgia graduation rate is 84% and the total rate of the three high school’s in Newton County is 90.7%. Here’s the breakdown by school:
Alcovy: 89%
Eastside: 91%
Newton: 92%
The Covington News had a good article about the progress we are making in our high schools. You can read that article here.
The Eastside High School dedication ceremony program.
More good news: on Sunday October 2, 2022, Principal Jeff Cher hosted the community for the dedication ceremony of the new Eastside High School facility at 140 Hwy 142, Covington, GA.
The new high school is massive and has a total capacity of 2500 students. The current square footage is nearly 350,000 sq/ft. (I got lost numerous times at Open House.) There are 88 classrooms, multiple labs, a state-of-the-art media center, a glorious cafeteria/commons area, an enormous gymnasium, and several ball fields on 112 acres.
The estimated costs for this project are:
Land & related fees - $816,000
Site work contractor - $5,387,000
General contractor - $59,479,000
Road improvements - $3,000,000
Architectural/Engineering fees - $3,348,000
Survey/testing/fees - $949,000
Furniture, fixtures, equipment - $3,058,000
Security systems - $166,000
Food service equipment - $487,000
Athletic lighting system - $935,000
For a total estimated cost of $74,628,000.
This is ESPLOST dollars put to good use!!!
My favorite part of the dedication ceremony was when Principal Cher was leading us in the dedication of the facility (see pic). He read the first line, and we, the community, responded with the italicized phrase. Therefore, Cher said these words:
“For the development of healthy minds and bodies…to the education of young people…to instill in every young person a love of learning…to develop in our young people a positive self-concept and an understanding of their place in the world…to foster in each student a respect for and an appreciation of others…to assist our young people to reach their full potential academically, emotionally, physically, and socially…”
And we, the community, responded:
“We dedicate this school…we, the parents, teachers, administrators, students, and friends of Eastside High School, pledge to join together to provide educational excellence for our students.”
This quasi-religious ceremony was both important and meaningful. We, the community, dedicated this facility to the all that was mentioned above. And we stand by it!
Ms. Laura Lambert of Newton College and Career Academy wins Newton County School System’s Teacher of the Year
Lastly, more good news: on October 6, 2022, Ms. Laura Lambert was named the 2022 Newton County School System Teacher of the Year!
Ms. Lambert has such a great story. As the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Debbie Doster Harper, read Ms. Lambert’s essay, I was moved to tears. Ms. Lambert is a bona fide genius. She has a degree in biotechnology and a Masters in education. Ms. Lambert could’ve worked for a large pharmaceutical company or been on the leading edge of the next biotechnology discovery, but her passion was teaching others about the subject and watching kids’ eyes light up when they “got it.” We really have a gem in Ms. Lambert and her award is most deserved. You can read the Covington News story here.
The 2022-2023 Teachers of the Year are as follows:
Blake Alexander* - East Newton Elementary
Lisa Allgood - Fairview Elementary
Juli-ette Goldston - Flint Hill Elementary
Angie Craver - Heard-Mixon Elementary
Simone Lawerence - Live Oak Elementary
Shameka Smith - Livingston Elementary
Becky Smallwood - Mansfield Elementary
Stacy Jaime - Middle Ridge Elementary
Amanda Kirkham - Newton County Theme School
Ana Escorza - Oak Hill Elementary
Taya Combs - Porterdale Elementary
Jill Rodriguez - Rocky Plains Elementary
Brenda Shepherd - South Salem Elementary
Tiffany Pinnock* - West Newton Elementary
Tomeka Daugherty - Clements Middle
Tawanna Griffin - Cousins Middle
Adrian Stone - Indian Creek Middle
Nicole Foster - Liberty Middle
Tonique Robinson - Veterans Memorial Middle
Bobby Maddox - Alcovy High
Kayla Stoddard - Eastside High
Demetrice Perry-Stokes - Newton High
Laura Lambert* - Newton College & Career Acadmey
* denotes Top 3 Finalists
Congratulations to all of our Teachers of the Year.
If you have some good news you’d like to share from the first ten weeks, please add it in the comments. We can never get enough good news about our teachers and students!!!
