It's an exciting time of year for everyone! There's a buzz of energy as parents are rushing around for gifts, students are taking their last tests, and teachers wrap up grading before heading home to their own families. After a couple of weeks of holiday treats, an abundance of gifts, and plentiful family time, students and teachers alike may be avoiding thoughts of heading back to school. Alas, it will come if you're ready or not – so might as well be ready! Teachers, here are 4 tips for a smooth transition back into school after your holiday break.

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.

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 Cherokee County Educational Foundation relies solely on the generosity of donors to sponsor initiatives that will help make the Cherokee County School District be at its best. We ask for donations year-round, but the heart of Giving Tuesday aligns with the reason CCEF asks for donations – to help make the world a better place. Giving Tuesday is a movement that focuses on generosity not just regionally or nationally – but on a global level. This movement strongly believes that together, we can bring some light to a world that can sometimes seem dark. As humans, we crave connection and community, and this community is created through small and large acts of kindness and generosity.

By Bobby Blount 

Technology has become an important part of the classroom, and as it has gained traction in the school system, it has become necessary to implement a data protection plan to protect the students of Cherokee County. The Cherokee County School District has implemented several strategies for protecting student information and investments as it relates to technology use. With an environment of continuous threats throughout the world, we find that we must remain vigilant to maintain and sustain a secured networked environment for our teaching and learning community.

While much of the responsibility for data security and protection falls upon the Division of Technology & Information Services, all users in the CCSD education community have a significant part to play in helping to keep information and devices protected. Here are some ways CCSD protects the students!

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!

All six Chick-fil-A locations across Cherokee County banded together to hold their Annual Chick-fil-A"Moove It" 5K road race at the Etowah River Park. The event drew more than 1,500 registered runners and supporters, and is the largest event of its kind in Cherokee County as well as North Georgia. 

​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!

Cherokee County Schools Night with the Hawks

 We're so excited to see all the photos coming in from our 2019 CCEF Golf Classic event last week! Check out the gallery below to see some more pictures. 

These photos will be posted on our Facebook page as well. Feel free to tag yourself and any other familiar faces!

If you haven't checked out the photos from our first post, click here.

Not everyone has the same story. Some students show up to school every day and can effortlessly pass all their classes, while others may need more help to achieve the same success. However, these disadvantaged students haven't always received the attention they needed to help them succeed. 

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

What an amazing day of good weather and great golfers to benefit the students and staff of Cherokee County.  Thank you to our sponsors, players, and volunteers.  Every public school in Cherokee County will benefit from this incredible outing.  Check out the gallery of photos from today's successful event.

To view more photos from the event, click here.

We finally have some fall weather, and what better way to enjoy the crisp air than participating in the 6th annual CCEF Golf Classic benefiting the students and staff of the Cherokee County School District on October 14th at BridgeMill Athletic Club. Don't miss the chance to show off your golf game, all for a good cause. 

By: Lisa-Marie Haygood 

Each summer, supporters of Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF) are encouraged to travel with their CCEF t-shirts and capture photos near and far. They submit their travel pictures to the On the Road with CCEF contest, and the person who travels the greatest distance is awarded a $300 gift card. A drawing is held for an additional $100 gift card from all other entries. 

 The Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF) is launching its 8th Annual T-Shirt Fundraising Campaign! The 501©(3) non-profit organization, supports both students and staff of the Cherokee County School District by promoting teaching, learning and celebrating achievements. CCEF seeks funding and resources to enrich Cherokee County Schools in areas not fully funded in the regular school program. 

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.

Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower surprised Billy Hayes with his Superintendent's 2019 Game Changer Award for Instructional Advocacy during the monthly board meeting of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation where the Northside CEO serves as board president. Enter heading here...