Starting next school year, Sequoyah HS students will have the opportunity to begin earning the AP (Advanced Placement) Capstone Diploma, which was developed by the College Board in partnership with colleges and universities. Sequoyah is only the second school in the Cherokee County School District to be approved for the AP Capstone program.

Sequoyah HS is very excited to provide this opportunity for our students, Principal Robert Van Alstyne said. With only 66 other high schools in Georgia participating, the AP Capstone program will keep Sequoyah among the elite schools in the Southeast.

Students who earn scores of three or higher for AP Seminar and AP Research coursework as well as scores of three or higher on four additional AP course exams will earn the AP Capstone Diploma. Students who score a three or higher in AP Seminar and Research but not on the four additional AP exams will earn an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Through AP classes, high school students participate in college-level studies and have the opportunity to earn college credit.

School Counselor Kelly Schalliol found success in her first career supporting the mental health of adults but knew she could do more to help those in need. If she counseled them as children, she realized, she could make a longer-lasting impact.

Eighteen years ago, Schalliol began her work as a school counselor, and 10 years ago, she was chosen to help the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) open the Tippens Education Center. The program provides students who are struggling with emotional and mental health issues a place not only to learn academics but also to receive additional counseling and therapeutic support and services.

Through Schalliols dedication, including her own continuing education to provide the best services possible, Tippens supports its students and helps many transition back to their regular school. 

That is a very proud day, she said of when its decided a student is ready to transition back, noting those moments are among her greatest accomplishments.

This spirit of care, compassion, and continuous improvement led her colleagues to name Schalliol the Cherokee Innovation Zones Counselor of the Year, and for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower to surprise her with the honor that shes the CCSD 2020 Counselor of the Year.

Kelly is a champion for every child she serves, Dr. Hightower said. She cares deeply about them and their families and was ahead of the curve on understanding the importance of social and emotional learning for every child. We appreciate Kelly. We are proud of her, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor!

Cherokee County residents responded generously to a recent food drive to support homeless and in-need local veterans. The American Legion Auxiliary at American Legion Post 45, located at 160 McClure Street in Canton, hosted the drive.

The Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program offers material support (including this days giveaway of three donated vehicles and a Tiny House). This countywide program partners with American Legion Post 45 and other local organizations to help identify fellow veterans who need minor repairs to their homes. This work is made possible by a grant from the Home Depot Foundation, which is committed to improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families.

For more information, contact program director Jim Lindenmayer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or call American Legion Post 45 at 770-479-4405.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Divisions annual Open Burning Ban is now in effect in 54 Georgia counties. The ban on open burning prohibits the burning of yard and land clearing debris from May 1 through September 30.

The summer open burning restrictions help us improve Georgias air quality during the hot summer months, said Karen Hays, chief of the Georgia EPD Air Protection Branch.

Recreational activities such as campfires and grilling are exempt from the open burning ban. To access more information, visit EPD.Georgia.gov and click on Open Burning Ban under quick links.

Since many organizations are doing things a little differently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff at Safe Kids Cherokee County would like you to know they are still available to help you with car seats.

Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of children. And 3 out of 4 car seats are installed incorrectly. Safe Kids Cherokee has nationally certified child passenger safety technicians ready to make sure you and your family are riding safely in the car. 

Here are the ways they can assist and still follow social distancing guidelines:
    Phone conference appointment Call and discuss options or issues you are having with your seat.
    Virtual car seat appointment Utilizing Facebook Live, Zoom, Skype, or other media formats, technicians can see exactly whats going on with your seat in your car and walk you through what to do to make it safer.
    In-person appointment Primarily reserved for those in need of a seat, technicians can assist and instruct while maintaining social distancing and wearing appropriate protective equipment including masks and gloves.

If you are interested in making an appointment, visit SafeKidsCherokeeCounty.org or call 678-493-4343.

Give a Kid a Chances mission is to help low-income families equip their children for each new school year. On July 13, the organization will be distributing backpacks filled with school supplies to Cherokee County students in need. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need will be greater this year.

If you would like to help, please visit GiveAKidAChance.org/files/2019_Backpack_Instruction_Sheet.pdf for specific instructions about backpack specifications as well as items that need to be purchased to go inside them. All items must be donated by July 5. If you have questions or require assistance, please contact Nitasha Ginn at 678-310-6257.

If your child needs a backpack/school supplies, please call 404-480-2334 (English) or 423-939-9031 (Spanish). For more information, visit GiveAKidAChance.org.

Rachel Gooch recently won the ADP Henry Taub Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by ADP Foundation and named for the companys late founder, who believed in the invaluable benefits of higher education. She will be attending the University of Georgia to major in art history.

Congratulations to Rachel, her family, and her teachers National Merit Scholarships are rare honors earned through years of hard work and dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and service, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said, noting Rachels many achievements including Superintendents Key Scholar, AP student, and outstanding visual artist.

Only about 1,000 distinguished high school seniors nationwide earn a special corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. Scholars are selected based on National Merit criteria as well as requirements set by the scholarship sponsor.

The ADP Scholarship, which offers as much as $20,000 in annual financial assistance for college tuition and books, is open to children of ADP associates who are pursuing a college education. Of all qualifying applicants nationwide, five winners are selected annually based on criteria including academic achievements, extracurricular activities and community involvement, leadership roles, and an essay.

Caring for our community, changing lives

For the past two years, Hickory Flat Volunteer Association (HFVA) has been quietly offering lifesaving classes every month at no cost to residents of Cherokee County and beyond. In 24 months, more than 560 citizens have been certified in CPR, thanks to the dedication of these volunteers. Classes offered include CPR/AED, First Aid, First Responder, and Bleeding Control.

The past few months, we have had to shut down all our certification offerings to the community. We will most likely double our class schedule once we can open the doors again, said HFVA President Tim Crossland, adding that its his hope that classes can begin in late June.

HFVA offers all certification courses at no charge and is financially supported through donations offered by students and members of the community.

For 45 years, our community has been very supportive of our organization. From 1975 to 2018, when we were the Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Department, and today, as Hickory Flat Volunteer Association, we have always been there to help people in need of our services, said Crossland. We are thrilled that we can continue to use our skills and expertise to train other people to save lives. June is Health and Wellness month and a perfect time to get certified or recertified in CPR.

HFVA members consist of career firefighters, volunteer firefighters, nurses, EMTs, fitness instructors, building contractors, and others. Some of the original founding members are still active in the organization. To find out more information about HFVA and other community services, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit HFVA.org.

From Stage to Screen

By Justin Spainhour-Roth

I dream for a living. While I cant take credit for that quote (you win this round, Mr. Spielberg), it definitely resonates with me a lot and the work I get to do at Elm Street Cultural Arts. Each day, I get the opportunity to think outside the box, be creative, and come up with ways to make the arts more impactful, more relevant, and more accessible to our community.

On March 13, hours before the curtain was to go up on opening night, we had to make the very difficult decision to cancel all performances of Helvetica, a beautiful new play by Will Coleman, due to COVID-19 concerns. In times like these, you have two choices in how to respond you can either lie down or stand up.

Within 24 hours, the cast, crew, creative team, and Elm Street staff came together to do something we had never attempted before we filmed the show and released it for people to enjoy from the comfort and safety of their homes. We normally film our performances for archival purposes, but this was different. This had to capture the spirit and the essence of the show as well as translate the magic of a live stage performance to an audience on film.

Our photographer, Bronson Kurtz, connected us with David Thompson Technologies LLC/DDT-Live, a media production company run by two talented young men who I could not believe were still in high school. Several different cameras were set up at multiple angles, audio was tested from all the microphones, and the show was filmed without an audience.

When we put everything together, the final edit revealed so many nuances from the production a touching moment between two cancer patients, an awkward first date, a heartbreaking but real conversation about death between a young girl and her father. That day of filming was so surreal and will probably be one of my favorite experiences at Elm Street. If youre interested, Helvetica can be viewed for free at ElmStreetArts.org until May 10.

The arts impact us in so many ways, and to me, film is a great visual example of that. Watching and experiencing something can make us laugh, tug at our heartstrings, encourage us to think, or a combination of the three. The next time you watch something new or revisit an old favorite, think about the artistry thats behind the angles, costume pieces, performances, and so much more. Its awe-inspiring.

Liberty ES, a national School of Character, remains committed to service learning. Before the schools closing, Libertys Student Leadership Team launched an initiative to help stock the Cherokee HS Care Pantry. This pantry, which complements the MUST Ministries food pantry housed at Cherokee HS, provides basic household items and toiletries to students in need, along with their families.

When CCSD schools closed on March 13, donations of toilet paper, soap, and more were piling up at Liberty ES, but had not yet been delivered to Cherokee HS. After a temperature check and following social distancing guidelines, teachers were permitted into Liberty ES to gather student donations as well as their classrooms leftover hand wipes/sanitizer, cleaning and household supplies, and the schools remaining supply of After School Program snacks.

The donated household supplies and snacks, which filled two truckloads, were shipped to Cherokee HS to be distributed to students and their families when they come to school to pick up food boxes.

This service-learning project, which was planned for several weeks prior to the pandemic and was designed to create a partnership between the two schools, turned out to be way more than expected and essential to Cherokee Countys most needy at this unthinkable time, said Liberty ES Principal Doug Knott.