page background

CCSD Connections

A Monthly Parent Newsletter - December 2024

CCSD ConnectionsA Monthly Parent Newsletter - December 2024

Superintendent's Message

Dear CCSD Family,


Happy holiday season! It’s officially here, and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving season.


As I shared with you earlier this fall, our School Board is on a mission for CCSD to become the highest-performing school district in our state and in our nation, and that begins with becoming a high-performing governance team.


Our School Board has continued to put in the work needed to strengthen its leadership through developing critically important components to successful governance: a more transparent board meeting structure with a monthly work session and standing reports; recorded and archived meetings; core beliefs; student performance goals and a superintendent’s evaluation instrument aligned with those goals; and, now, the first School Board Policy that board members have crafted together from start to finish.


This policy, which is online here, officially establishes the School Board’s core beliefs, its governance model, and includes its definitions of student performance and accountability. It’s an important milestone for our School Board members, and their investment in this work is a testament to the shared commitment to CCSD being the best place to learn.


In the coming months, our School Board will continue its work to elevate the excellence including through the development of student performance goals for math and a School Board Policy for student literacy.


I want to applaud our School Board including Chair Kyla Cromer, whose tenure is ending this month after 11 years of service; Vice Chair and District 2 member Patsy Jordan, District 1 member Kelly Poole, District 3 member John Harmon, District 4 member Rick Steiner, District 5 member Erin Ragsdale and District 6 member Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison for their exceptional commitment to effectiveness from the board room to the classroom.


And thank you for entrusting your children to us each day. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to help guide their path to future success – it’s an incredible gift.


I heard recently that this is the season between gratitude and hope. It feels a lot like exhaustion some days, as we balance work, family and friends, and holiday cheer, but it’s also where we find all the magic, memories, and meaning.


I wish you and your family a joyful holiday season!


Thank you,


Mary Elizabeth Davis

Superintendent of Schools

THANKS TO THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR

TOP STORIES

School Board meeting

Board Business Briefs

The School Board at its monthly meeting reviewed the funding outlook for next school year and approved a new governance policy. The school district is moving up its budget adoption timeline to better align this process with preparations for the next school year, such as hiring new teachers and publishing salary scales for recruitment and retention. Learn more here.

Farm to School Award

Farm Fresh Honors

CCSD’s School Nutrition program has again earned a top state honor for serving farm-fresh meals to students: the Georgia Farm to School Award from the Georgia Department of Education. CCSD has earned the award every year since the program was established in 2014. Only 42 of Georgia’s 159 school districts received the award this fall. Learn more here.

villa class

Parent Academy Grads

CCSD’s sixth annual VILLA Program parent academy, which encourages and celebrates parent engagement, has graduated a new class. VILLA (Volunteer Instructional Leadership Learning Academy) is a free seven-week program that offers participants the opportunity to learn more about the public schools in their community. Learn more here.

ACCOLADES

National Merit Commended students

Meritorious Learning

Eight CCSD high school seniors have been named National Merit Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The seniors are among the only 2 to 3% of the Class of 2025 honored nationwide with the recognition. Learn more here.

JROTC Raiders teams

National Champions

Three CCSD teams - Cherokee HS, Etowah HS and River Ridge HS - have earned national Air Force Junior ROTC Raiders championship titles. Winning top honors requires excellent physical fitness, military skills mastery, strong teamwork and leadership. Learn more here.

signing day logo

Signing Day

Sixty-four CCSD student athletes have signed commitment letters to compete at the college level. The students were honored with ceremonies at their high schools to celebrate their signing of National Letters of Intent. Learn more here.

MORE #CCSDElevateTheExcellence NEWS

WATCH & LEARN

The Lift - November 2024 School Board Meeting

The Lift with Mary Elizabeth Davis

The Lift with Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis is a new monthly video to provide the community with a brief synopsis after each School Board meeting. The video will review the business of the board and lift up the work that matters from the board room to the classroom. We will include the latest edition of The Lift in each edition of this newsletter. #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

WHO IS CCSD?

Meet Five Newly Appointed CCSD Leaders

From left, Amy Graham, Kelli Kimbrell, Jessica Sevin, Elizabeth Crook, Rita Modrzynski.


The School Board this fall appointed several new district leaders to fill vacancies created by retirements and central office reorganization.


Amy Graham, beginning Jan. 6, will serve as CCSD’s new chief human resources officer. A 25-year educator, Ms. Graham currently serves as CCSD’s executive director for elementary certified staffing. She began her education career as a classroom teacher and advanced in 2006 to begin her administrative career, as an assistant principal and then principal, until her 2016 appointment to her current district leadership role.


Kelli Kimbrell, beginning Jan. 6, will serve as CCSD’s new executive director for instructional Special Education. A 24-year educator, Ms. Kimbrell currently serves as an assistant director for Special Education for Cobb County Schools.


Jessica Sevin, beginning Jan. 6, will serve as CCSD’s new supervisor for advanced learning. An 18-year educator, she currently serves as coordinator of advanced studies for Fulton County Schools.


Elizabeth Crook is CCSD’s new supervisor of instructional resources. A 15-year educator, Ms. Crook most recently served as an instructional design and resource specialist for Academics & Accountability.


Rita Modrzynski is CCSD’s new supervisor of professional learning. A 12-year educator, Ms. Modrzynski most recently served as a Title II specialist for Academics & Accountability.

PARENT RESOURCES

image from The Georgia Classroom

Keep Learning Together

The Georgia Classroom is a partnership between the Georgia Department of Education and GPB that shares video resources with families to help support their children's learning. The numerous videos include lessons for kids and guides for parents (including some led by CCSD teachers!).

reading a book aloud

School to Home Connections

CCSD's "School to Home Connections" newsletter's primary audience is families whose children are learning English as a second language, but it provides useful info for all families. Please read the new issue online here, which offers ideas on strengthening language skills.
Easy Bacon Tomato Lettuce Wraps

From Our Kitchen to Yours

CCSD's award-winning School Nutrition department shares a recipe of the month from its school menu test kitchen as part of its monthly newsletter. Check out the new issue online here featuring recipes including Easy Bacon Tomato Lettuce Wraps.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please check your school’s website and social media for school event information.


Dec. 6: 7 p.m., Macedonia ES (at Sequoyah HS) presents "Madagascar Jr.: A Musical Adventure." Tickets: $8 - advance only through https://gofan.co/.


Dec. 6: 7 p.m., Cherokee HS theatre program and Special Education department present "Frosty the Snowman." Admission is an unwrapped toy at door.


Dec. 10-11: 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., River Ridge HS theatre program presents Two One-Act Plays, Admission is $10.


Dec. 12: 7 p.m., School Board Auditorium at Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility,

Cherokee County School Board Meeting.


Dec. 20: Early dismissal day for high school and middle school students (schedule posted online here). Elementary school, Pre-K and preschool will follow regular hours; After School Program will not be offered.


Dec. 23-Jan. 3: All CCSD schools and offices closed for winter break.


Jan. 6: Digital Learning Day for all CCSD students.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Are you a former teacher thinking about returning to work? Are you someone with a degree in another field but want to become a teacher? Then please join us for one of our Jump Into Teaching 30-minute info sessions at 9 a.m., noon or 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 1020 Keeter Road, Canton, 30114. Questions? Contact CCSD Recruiter Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256.

CONTACT US

CCSD logo
Bookmark our website, Like our Facebook page, Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Threads ... keep up with our news as it happens! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

Email: communications@cherokeek12.net
Website: www.cherokeek12.net
Location: PO Box 769, Canton, GA 30169
Phone: 7704791871
Facebook: facebook.com/CherokeeGASchools/
Twitter: @CherokeeSchools

Barbara Jacoby
Barbara is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters