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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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. 

Karen Garland Assisting Discovery Statewide

In the words of a great American poet, Mark Van Doren, "The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." Karen Garland certainly hasn't gone unseen for her passion of assisting discovery. You may know her from social media as she was featured wearing her CCEF shirt all the way in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Or perhaps you heard of her receiving the Teacher of the Year Award at Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy in 2019. Most recently, she has continuously proven her success as she was selected to serve on a statewide science education board. 

Get Involved!  

You have likely seen #CCSDFam across social media, blogs, and Cherokee County school websites. It's something we truly believe in, and we're constantly blown away by the involvement of our community to make this the best possible school district for our students. We are proud to announce that we have recently developed a partnership with both Carriage Kia of Woodstock and Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw in an effort to raise more funds for more schools!

From Barbara Jacoby, Chief Communications Officer of Cherokee County School District:   

CCSD is expanding its school closure to-go student meals program to include additional sites and to extend to Spring Break.

 By. Lisa-Marie Haygood 

The Celebration of Education Gala benefiting the Cherokee County Educational Foundation took place on March 7th at the Northside Cherokee Conference Center. The black-tie event was presented by Northside Hospital Cherokee and was filled with more than 400 guests dining on delectable food served by Carrabba's Restaurant and bidding on silent auction items provided by business partners and friends of the Cherokee County School District. 

This year is already off to a great start, but we don't want to forget everything that we accomplished as a foundation last year. In case you missed them, we want to recognize some of our biggest events and the growth we have experienced over the past eight years. We are so thankful to have such a large community willing to give of their time and money to make each year better than the last. It takes a village, and Cherokee County is certainly one of the best as we seek to cultivate a thorough educational experience for our students.