Cherokee County School District Announcements River Ridge Lady Knights Win State ChampionshipThe River Ridge HS girls basketball team played in their first state championship game in the program’s history, beating Lovejoy HS to become State Champs! Last season, the Lady Knights were put out of the Class 6A state playoffs by Lovejoy in the quarterfinals. This year, River Ridge bested the Wildcats 68-50 to win the title. In addition to their State Championship win, the Lady Knights finished the season with a perfect 26-0 record against teams from the state of Georgia, and player Mataya Gayle passed the 2,000-point mark for her career during River Ridge’s State Championship win. Head Coach Jason Taylor has led the team since the school opened in 2009. 2023-24 New Online Registration SystemThe Synergy system provides a simple online registration process that eliminates the need for a visit to the school front office. The system can be used to register new and transfer students. To use the registration system, parents can set up an account at Bit.ly/registerccsd. The transition to the online registration system is the District’s first step toward using Synergy’s ParentVue as its student information system, which will be open to parents in August 2024. 2023 Partners and Volunteers of the Year HonoredCCSD celebrated outstanding school community partners and volunteers at its annual Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year recognition ceremony. From a pool of 78 honorees, one from each individual school and center, the Rotary Club of Woodstock, Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy’s Partner of the Year, was named the CCSD 2023 Partner of the Year, and Britt Parramore, ACTIVE Academies’ Volunteer of the Year, was named the CCSD 2023 Volunteer of the Year. CCSD Schools Earn Top State AP HonorsFor the 13th consecutive year, CCSD high schools earned the state’s top honors for outstanding Advanced Placement (AP) programs and performance. All six high schools were named 2023 AP Honor Schools for exceptional student performance and participation on AP exams, as well as being recognized as AP STEM and AP STEM Achievement Schools. Five high schools – Cherokee, Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, and Sequoyah – were also named AP Humanities and AP Humanities Achievement Schools. Five schools – Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah, and Woodstock – additionally earned AP School of Distinction honors.Boston ES Educator Named CCSD Media Specialist of the Year Boston ES media specialist Jennifer Martin is known for the supportive connections she makes with students. She was busy doing just that with a group of third graders eager to learn about mythology when she was surprised by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower and members of his staff with the news she is CCSD’s Library Media Specialist of the Year. Martin now advances to represent CCSD in the regional competition, from which she could move on to the state contest. Woodstock HS Announces New Head Football Coach Coach Daniel Devine will take over the program at Woodstock HS with 20 years of coaching experience. He began his coaching career in North Carolina (2003-2012) before moving to Georgia, where he served as the defensive coordinator at Alpharetta HS from 2012-2016. In 2014 and 2015, Coach Devine led Alpharetta to a top 10 defensive ranking in Class 6A. In 2016, he became head coach at North Springs HS where he took the Spartans to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years and received Region Coach of the Year honors. In 2018, Coach Devine became the defensive coordinator at Etowah HS. For the past two years, he has served in that same role at West Forsyth HS where he received the 7A Defensive Assistant of the Year award.CCSD Schools Earn Top State AP Honors For the 13th consecutive year, CCSD high schools earned the state’s top honors for outstanding Advanced Placement (AP) programs and performance. All six high schools were named 2023 AP Honor Schools for exceptional student performance and participation on AP exams, as well as being recognized as AP STEM and AP STEM Achievement Schools. Five high schools – Cherokee, Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, and Sequoyah – were also named AP Humanities and AP Humanities Achievement Schools. Five schools – Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah, and Woodstock – additionally earned AP School of Distinction honors. Cherokee HS Teacher Selected for NASA Teacher STEM Training Program Lana Glaus, who teaches astronomy and physical science, will participate this summer in the LiftOff Alumni Summer Institute at the Kennedy Space Center in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The program is sponsored by NASA, its Texas Space Grant Consortium, University of Texas Center for Space Research and industries. Teachers are selected to participate in the nationally competitive program, which offers workshops, hands-on activities, field investigations, and presentations by NASA scientists and engineers working on various missions. The costs associated with participating will be paid by NASA’s Georgia and Texas Space Consortiums.
CCFES Awarded International Accredited Status Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) has received Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program. CCFES is one of approximately 300 agencies in the world to achieve this status with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE).“We have been able to use the CFAI accreditation process as a mechanism to plan for the future of our department and identify areas where we can improve the quality of service we provide,” said Fire Chief Eddie Robinson.CFAI is dedicated to assisting the fire and emergency service agencies throughout the world in achieving excellence through self-assessment and accreditation to provide continuous quality improvement and the enhancement of service delivery to their communities. The CFAI process is voluntary and provides an agency with an improvement model to assess their service delivery and performance internally and then works with a team of peers from other agencies to evaluate their completed self-assessment.
Woodstock Improves Citizen Request for Action Program The City of Woodstock seeks to expedite the resolution to your request and provide a response as quickly as possible by improving its Citizen Request for Action program. Now, you can submit information about your concern online at WoodstockGa.gov/your_government/citizen_request_for_action.php, and a staff member will route your request to the appropriate department or agency and follow up with you about the resolution.Examples of reasons to submit a Citizen Request for Action• Code Enforcement issues regarding property violations such as overgrown lawns and garbage, inoperable/abandoned vehicles, illegal signage, etc.• Garbage and recycling complaints• Parks and trails maintenance issues• Public Works issues such as deceased animals, roadway drainage problems, potholes, problems with street lights/traffic lights, missing/damaged street signs, branches/landscape debris in the right of way, etc.• Water Utility issues such as nonemergency leaks, water meter repairs, water quality concerns, etc.
CSO Announces Award Winners Sheriff Frank Reynolds bestowed the following awards to Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (CSO) employees and citizens at a recent Board of Commissioners meeting: Life Saving Awards were presented to Deputies Andres Gavina and Tripp Ohar, Steven Parker (not pictured), Brett Hall, and Michael Jones. Sheriff’s Commendations were presented to Inv. Benjamin Botzong, Cpl. Tommy Thompkins, and Deputy Jeff Steer. Sheriff’s Outstanding Citizen Awards were presented to Mabel Ntiamoah, Brittany Kim (not pictured), and Jill Washburn (not pictured).Sheriff Reynolds then recognized past and present CSO Reserve deputies and announced the inaugural Eisenbrandt Leadership Award in honor of the late Reserve Capt. Greg Eisenbrandt who served Cherokee County for 25 years as a Reserve Deputy and was the commander over the unit for 15 years. The award will be presented each year to a deserving CSO Reserve deputy. The inaugural award was given to Greg’s wife Peg Eisenbrandt.
Child Abuse Awareness Month and the Importance of “Prevention in Partnership” April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Everyone has a role in ensuring children have positive experiences and families have the resources they need when they need them, well before they are in crisis. The theme of this year’s awareness and impact campaign, led by Prevent Child Abuse America and its national network of state chapters, is “Building Together: Prevention in Partnership.”Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and Prevent Child Abuse Cherokee invite community members to help raise awareness and impact through the following action items:Share the Find Help Georgia online resource hub with families. Users can search online or talk to trained professionals who will connect them with area programs.On April 11, visit Big Dan’s Car Wash (305 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock). A percentage of all proceeds on this day will be donated to The Children’s Haven, a Prevent Child Abuse chapter in Cherokee County, to support child abuse prevention services in our community. During the month of April, shop at the Shoe Station (2243 Cumming Highway, Canton) and ask to round up your change. Proceeds will be donated to The Children’s Haven. Follow The Children’s Haven on social media and share its posts. Encourage friends and family to do the same. Use the hashtags #BuildingTogether, #PreventionInPartnership, and #CAPMonth to signify your commitment to helping children, families, and communities to thrive. For more information, please visit CherokeeChildrensHaven.org.
Woodstock Fire & Rescue Chief Announces Retirement The City of Woodstock has announced the retirement of Fire Chief Dave Soumas who has served the citizens of Woodstock since 1988. In his 34 years of service, Soumas led the department in significant advancements and milestones. Chief Soumas’ last day with the department will be April 30, 2023.
Woodstock’s Assistant City Manager Selected for Leadership Program Assistant City Manager Coty Thigpen was selected as one of 45 promising professionals to serve in the GeorgiaForward 2023 Young Gamechangers program. This unique leadership action program is hosted by GeorgiaForward, a nonprofit organization administrated by the Georgia Municipal Association. For more information about the program, please visit GeorgiaForward.org.
New Squad Added to CCFES Squad 20, a new transport unit for Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES), was placed in-service last month at Fire Station 20 on Bells Ferry Road near Wyngate Parkway. Staffed with two firefighters per shift, CCEF squads are designed to transport patients requiring emergency care to local hospitals. Like all apparatus in CCFES, these units are staffed with cross-trained personnel who are certified firefighters and licensed paramedics or advanced EMTs. This additional unit will provide faster response times and more firefighters to the area.
2023 Woodstock Summer Concert Series Lineup Announced During his 2023 State of the City Address, Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell announced the lineup for the 2023 Season of Woodstock Summer Concert Series:May 13 Craig MorganJune 10 Rick Springfield July 8 Uptown Funk (Bruno Mars tribute)August 12 Completely Unchained (Van Halen tribute) September 9 Drivin N Cryin All concerts are free to attend and will be at Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. For information, visit WoodstockConcertSeries.com.
Highlights of State of the County Addresses Cherokee County School District Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower, Cherokee County Commission Chairman Harry Johnston, and Cherokee Office of Economic Development President Misti Martin delivered State of the County speeches in January. Hightower shared metrics illustrating the strength of the District, which serves more than 42,000 students. The graduation rate increased 17 points to 92.3%, with 97% of students being college ready. Students outperform 90% of other Georgia students. Hightower also pointed out the strong financials of the District, highlighting the reduced use of bonds and a reduced millage rate.Johnston’s address focused on the natural gifts in the community, as well as its great manmade resources, infrastructure, and plans for the future. His focus is to keep making Cherokee County the best place to live by gradually reducing the growth rate over the next 30 years and catching up on transportation infrastructure while continuing to be fiscally responsible.Martin spoke about Cherokee By Choice (CBC) 2.0, a continuation of the endeavor that has businesses choosing to relocate to Cherokee County. The initial program brought in more than $467 million and 2,175 jobs. A survey completed in preparation for the launch of CBC 2.0 indicated a focus needs to be made on advanced manufacturing, corporate/regional headquarters, and entrepreneurship/innovation. All three State of the County presentations can be viewed at CherokeeGa.com.