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. 

Parenting isn't for the faint of heart, and anyone who is a parent knows the struggles that come with helping your child navigate through school academically and socially. Not only are parents helping their children navigate school life, but they're also helping them sift through all of the physical and emotional changes that come with being a kid. And boy is the world a different place than when many of us were young! That's why the Cherokee County School District has stepped in as a resource through Parent University.

By.  Lisa-Marie Haygood

Who doesn't love the chance to get dressed up and have a fun night out on the town while benefiting a great cause? The Cherokee County Educational Foundation will be hosting their Annual Celebration of Education Gala on Saturday night, March 7th presented by Northside Hospital Cherokee Bluffs Conference Center.

​There's always room for more t-shirts! Especially if they're comfortable and support a good cause. In 2019 we launched our 8th annual T-Shirt Fundraising Campaign, and our supporters have been buying them left and right. We have some more, and we want to make sure we get one in your hands! 

There are so many people in our community who are deserving to be recognized for their outstanding contributions both within Cherokee County and beyond. While we can think of many people that would be a perfect fit for the Alumni of the Year award, we want to hear from you. We want you to nominate someone you think is deserving of this honor! After we evaluate the nominations, we will recognize the selected alumna and alumnus at this year's Celebration of Education Gala!

Mahatma Gandhi. Florence Nightingale. William Shakespeare. Albert Einstein. Michelangelo. Jane Austen. Mother Teresa. These are all men and women who came into this world and left it better than they found it through art, philosophy, science, math, and a passion for others. Among these world changers is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

It's time to get excited! We're less than two months away from the 2020 Celebration of Education Gala, and we can't wait to see you there.

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