There's no time like November to get into a thankful spirit, and showing your gratitude is a fantastic way to increase feelings like joy and optimism across everyone, from teachers and students to faculty, staff and parents. For the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, what we are most thankful for is everyone who supports our mission: supporting the students and staff of the Cherokee County School District; from our sponsors, contributors, board members, volunteers and everyone in-between – thank you! 

With the Holiday season approaching, along with a much-needed break, students, teachers, and faculty are all looking forward to different things: enjoying time spent with the family, getting some much-needed rest, and much more. Oftentimes, we forget that by the time the holiday break ends, and everyone makes their return to school, that we are in a new year! 

The end of the school year is finally here! While many of our great teachers, faculty, and staff are ready for a relaxing summer break, there are typically a couple of final things that we must deal with before we say goodbye to our classrooms for the summer. Whether you're moving to a new classroom, changing grades, or just had a hectic year full of clutter, we all must make decisions on what to keep and what to get rid of come this time of year. 

Many kids rely on the meals provided to them by their school to keep them fed. So, what happens when they're out for the summer and are no longer able to obtain food? The answer is disheartening – they often go hungry.

"6 out of 7 hungry kids don't get the summer meals they need." Reports No Kid Hungry.

This is a reality that so many children face, but thanks to the funding of the USDA Seamless Summer Option, less kids are going hungry in the summer months.

The Cherokee County School District Nutrition Department and the Transportation Department joined forces to take an old school bus and turn it into a sign of hope for so many children. This sign of hope came in the form of a new delivery bus.

This café on wheels made a big impact on Cherokee County's community. The only requirements are that the recipients of these summer meals must be 18 years old or younger, and that they eat the meal on-site – no identification required! Kids can eat either in the bus or on the tables and chairs provided that surround the bus.

 There are many pieces to the puzzle when deciding a location to build or buy a house. Some of the puzzle pieces include:

Have you ever heard of the phrase "every penny counts"? You might have heard someone say this and think that it's just a phrase people say to try to rope you into donating your money to a cause. Well, there's a reason that phrase is used so frequently – it's because it's true!

This is a hot topic as people debate if utilizing technology in the classroom is harmful or helpful to the learning experience. There are great arguments for both as some teachers find it to be distracting while others enjoy the benefits technology has to offer. There was a time when libraries and paper documents were the only reliable source for academic information. Phones only made calls. If you wanted portable music, you had to have a Walkman. Social media didn't exist, and if you wanted to get somewhere you either looked at a map or printed off MapQuest instructions before you left for your trip. The times have certainly changed.

Current school-aged kids were born between 2001 and 2016. This means the students that now occupy classrooms have barely known a life without Google, iPods, GPS, Wi-Fi, or social media. While there are some issues that come with the world revolving around devices, what if these devices and advances in technology could benefit a student's education? What if they could make a difference in the classroom? Good news, they already are making a difference! With the advance of technology, there have been so many doors opened for students and teachers alike.

Here are 5 benefits of utilizing technology in the classroom!

In our previous blog, Giving Tuesday – A Reason to Give, we were asking for donations in honor of Giving Tuesday. We wanted to show you just what you're giving to when you choose to donate to the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. Your contributions make a difference in children's lives as they navigate their education. Not every journey is the same, and some students have to get creative to consume information in a way that will be truly beneficial.

The last couple of weeks, we have been discussing the power that your donations have on the students of Cherokee County. Last week in our blog, When Little Ears are Straining to Listen, we went into the details of an IMPACT grant that went towards devices that helped students who may have auditory struggles hear their teachers and classmates better. This helped students focus better and gave them a fun way to contribute to classroom conversations. This week, we will be discussing another approved grant that has helped students develop additional skills. This program will ultimately help students obtain skills that will help them as they head into high school, higher education, and the workforce.

It's that time of the decade... 

It's 2020 and with the new decade comes the Census Bureau in search of information about you and your household. Despite it being your civic duty, you should be eager to participate in this as it has an impact on the community and decisions that are being made. 

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. 

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. 

With the first day of Spring taking place last week, now is the perfect time of the school year to take care of some much-needed spring cleaning! Just think about how nice it would be to return to a clean, clutter-free classroom after the Cherokee County School District Spring Break, priming you and your students for a strong finish to the 2023-2024 school year!

Throughout the year CCEF receives many applications for Rapid Grants, and one of the best parts about approving and providing these funds to our great CCSD faculty members is recognizing the spectacular things they are doing in their classrooms with the help of our community! 

This summer has already been one to remember! Earlier this month, the Cherokee County Education foundation held another amazing golf tournament, sponsored by the Education First Fund Realty Team! CCEF also had the pleasure to introduce the first ever sporting clays tournament, co-sponsored by Batson-Cook Construction & Northside Hospital Cherokee! 

Geiger Legal Group wants to reward one hard-working teacher from EACH Elementary School in Cherokee County with a cart full of classroom goodies. But we need your help!

While the school year may be over next month, the Cherokee County Educational Foundation has some amazing events coming up this summer that you won't want to miss! Check out all of the event details to learn about registration, deadlines, and so much more!