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As we look forward to the 2021 Gala, we wanted to take a peek at what school looked like in our county leading up to 1970, the year that both of our 2020 Alumni of the Year award winners graduated from Cherokee High School. Ms. Rebecca Johnston and Mr. Steve Stancil were chosen as the winners of this award for their outstanding contributions to the community. Both of our winners have had great success in their careers, and the cool thing is…it all started in a Cherokee County school. Ms. Johnston stated, "I appreciate that my education at CHS helped me to be able to achieve what I have in life. I have been able to do what I love most, which is to have a career as a writer and editor and have the opportunity to record our Cherokee County history through my writings. This award is a pinnacle of my life." 

Thrive. This word manifests itself in a lot of different ways in a lot of different people. For some, it may be a series of small successes, while for others it's the "ah-ha" moment that makes it all worth it. Either way, this is our goal for all students – to give each child the opportunity to thrive in their own way. These Cherokee County Educational Foundation Impact Grant winners submitted proposals with ideas that have and will continue to make an impact on students of all ages and abilities. 

If you're a teacher, you take care of your students for a living. Being a teacher comes with a lot of worries and concerns, and sometimes it's hard to disconnect from that and reset. After a school year that has been unlike any other, you may be feeling especially burned out, but with winter break right around the corner, it's important to go ahead and start planning how you can take care of yourself over the break. Depending on your personality, your version of self-care may look different than others. We have compiled a few different ways to take care of yourself depending on your personality type. Determine which type you identify most with and plan out time to do the associated self-care tip. 

Teachers were superheroes long before COVID-19. They spent years in school preparing to be teachers. They love their students and spend time fretting over if they have food when they get home, whether they understand the material, and if they're going to do well on their tests. However, teachers who had been in the classroom for decades were suddenly forced to relearn how to teach. New teachers spent years learning how to manage a classroom but are now having to manage a Zoom call instead. It's safe to say that teachers are exhausted even as many have returned to in-person learning. Thanksgiving is next week and in the spirit of giving thanks, we wanted to share some unique ways to make your child's teachers feel appreciated in the midst of tough times.

For the last couple of months, we have been highlighting Impact Grant winners and how they're spending their grant money. This month, we're going to cover Hailey Burden and Elizabeth Gama, of Arnold Mill Elementary and April Popham of LR Tippens Education Center as they work hard to create a space where students can gain valuable life skills and develop a deeper passion for novel studies. 

As we've all learned this year, connection is crucial to human existence. The connections we make with friends, family, teachers, and students are bonds that can last a lifetime. They aid in the formation of our character, the growth of our intellect, and mold how we view the world. With connection comes compassion, and it's important that we seek ways to be compassionate and create an inclusive environment for all kinds of students so they can experience the same connection and opportunity for growth. Three Cherokee County School District teachers saw the value of inclusivity and connection and went to work to make sure their students have the tools they need to succeed intellectually, socially, and emotionally. 

By. Lisa-Marie Haygood 

The Operators of every Chick-fil-A location in Cherokee County came together again this year to hold the annual "Moo've It" 5K Road Race. This event is held each year at the Etowah River Park and typically draws 1500 participants. The race is a qualifier for the Peachtree and celebrates the return of all our public-school students to a new school year as well.

Music plays a very special part in the lives of so many students. It can become their safe place, their escape from the stressors of life, their breath of fresh air in the middle of a school day, and an opportunity to form a love that could last for a lifetime. Apart from the social-emotional benefits of music education, it has also proven to help develop brain function that can improve language skills, test scores, creativity, and even math. Two of our grant winners recognized just how much music and academics go together.

The Woodstock Lions Club will be hosting a free and contactless food distribution event for the local community this Saturday, September 12th. Thanks to the partnership of the USDA, Collins Brothers Produce, Lions Club of Georgia, His Hands Church, City of Woodstock, and Lowe's Woodstock, this event will provide free food to the families of Woodstock.

This year has flown by and everyone seems to be searching for some sense of normalcy in the safest way possible. 2020 has been full of constant changes, but we're pleased to announce that this year's Golf Classic is still on the books and it's only a month away! Join us at BridgeMill Athletic Club on October 12th and enjoy a day full of golf, fun, and raising money for CCEF to benefit the students and staff of the Cherokee County School District! In preparation, here are some ways to improve your golf game.

Good morning to all the Chick-fil-A Moo've It 5K entrants! Due to the coronavirus, we are not able to hold an in-person race at Etowah River Park this year. Instead, we have converted the event to a Race in Place/virtual run. The feature event will be a 30-minute "Moo've It 5K Show" this Saturday morning at 8:00. Click here to watch the video on Saturday.

As you may have already heard, this year's Chick-fil-A Moo've It 5K has been converted to a virtual Race in Place. We are saddened that this event is unable to occur as it was originally planned, but we're thankful that we're able to move forward with the race in the safest way possible. Though the race isn't quite what we had planned for, our incredible sponsors, such as Carriage Kia of Woodstock, have been so gracious to still offer their support to both the Cherokee County Special Olympics and the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. 

Every year, we're happy to add new members to our board who bring different ideas, skills, and perspectives to the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. It takes a village and we like to think ours is the best. This year, we are pleased to welcome 5 new board members to CCEF! Read below to learn more about each new board member and what they add to our team. 

Each year, the Cherokee County Educational Foundation holds the On the Road With CCEF contest to celebrate how far and wide around the globe our annual t-shirts travel. Contestants take pictures wearing their shirts during their summer vacations, and we have seen entries from as far away as Thailand and Queensland, Australia. It has been a pleasure to be part of these travels, and we enjoy sharing these photos and travels with our community through articles, on our website, and in social media posts. However, this year looks a little different.

Earlier this year, many parents went from helping their children with homework to becoming full-time learning facilitators as schools closed their doors and sent children to complete their school year at home. Upon initial closure, we didn't know this would be the last time our students would step foot in classrooms for the remainder of the school year and parents weren't quite prepared for the constant teaching and entertaining of stir-crazy children. As the school year ended, so did your student's primary occupation. We know that many parents are on the lookout for fun and safe activities for the whole family so we compiled a list of 12 activities you can do at home!

You probably know that the Georgia Lottery donates towards education – specifically for Pre-Kindergarten and college students. However, the real question is this: Is Cherokee County directly affected by the Georgia Lottery? Do our students actually experience the benefits of the lottery? While K-12 public education districts do not directly benefit, the answer is yes! 

For centuries, society has adapted to changes in its surroundings whether it be the prosperity of the Industrial Revolution, the despair of World War II, or the pandemic of 2020.  We shift, we compromise, we create, and we do what must be done to survive. Though the narrative has been the same, that doesn't make this period of tribulation any less difficult. Everyone has felt it in one way or another, including students both young and old, and their teachers who have made the impossible, possible. 

As a child's brain is developing, food is crucial to the process. Not having the proper food and nutrients can affect many things including a child's mood, academic performance, ability to concentrate, and physical health. We want our students to succeed and live a happy, healthy life. Food security and nutrition can play a big part in this and we aim to make sure our students have all the tools they need to succeed whether they're learning in the classroom or their own homes. Thanks to the community and Kurt Lee Wheeler, we're able to work towards having the resources needed to feed our students. 

By Lisa-Marie Haygood  

If asked to reflect on someone that taught you something in life, memories would vary from person to person. Learning to ride a bike, or bake a cake, or tie your shoes. Teachers come in many shapes and sizes, and life lessons come in a variety of containers as well. We have seen life lessons and history being shaped right in front of us.