School Notes FEBRUARY 2023

SCHOOL NOTES February 2023

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SCHOOL NOTES MAGAZINE

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

As I have traveled across our district this semester, I have been nothing short of amazed at the enthusiasm and dedication our teachers have for our kids, schools, and community.

I have seen teachers who listen, who have a positive attitude in the face of challenges, and teachers who work with purpose and clear objectives.

I have seen teachers who expect their students to achieve and who are not afraid of challenging them. I have seen them perform as teams, celebrating with both laughter and tears, the wins and the losses.

I have witnessed how teachers adapted, connected, and explored alongside their students. I have also seen our staff members lift up students as well as entire families.

Every example has been a testament to the commitment we, the Camden County Schools Family, have to build a learning experience like no other, in a place like no other.

It is this commitment that attracts families to our community and keeps many of us here, and it is why I could not imagine being Superintendent anywhere else.

I thank you - no matter your role - for that commitment. Every member of our team is giving their best for kids. The magnitude of work that is going on every day to ensure our students have the best education possible is awe-inspiring.

I thank each of you - parent, community member, educator, staff member - for the work you do every day for every child.

It has been a fantastic semester so far, and I am incredibly thankful and proud to be the Superintendent of Camden County Schools.

Dr. John Tucker

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CONTACTS AT A GLANCE Central Administrative Offices 311 South East Street Kingsland, Georgia 31548 Phone: (912) 729-5687 Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

CCS Website www.camden.k12.ga.us

Social Media Follow us!

UPCOMING EVENTS March 2 - Dr. Seuss's Birthday/Read Across America 6-10 - School Based Speech Pathologist Week/ National School Social Work Week/ National School Breakfast Week

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BOARD OF EDUCATION

Jimmy Coffel Vice - Chairman District 3

Mark Giddens District 5

Jonathon Blount Chairman District 4

Allison Murray District 2

Jason Chance District 1

Regular meetings of the Board of Education are held at 6:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Board Conference Room of the Camden County Schools Administrative Office located at 311 South East Street in Kingsland, Georgia. A work session may be held on the Thursday preceding the regular meeting, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Visit www.camden.k12.ga.us to view the Board of Education meeting agendas and minutes.

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BOARD OF EDUCATION

District Spelling Bee Winner Janay Dumornay

Kiwanis Club STAR Student and STAR Teacher Keira Mapel and Mrs. Susan McMurray

First Place Winner in FBLA Client Services Competition Dylan Brown

At our February Board meeting, we recognized many of our amazing students and teachers of Camden County Schools!

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BOARD OF EDUCATION

Back to Back NAVY NATIONAL CHAMPIONS CCHS NJROTC Rifle Team

Camden County Schools January Teachers of the Month

CCHS Cultural Diversity Club

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BACK TO BACK NAVY NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL NJROTC RIFLE TEAM

Back to back Navy National Champions!!! Camden A totaled 4646-296x from Jordan de Jesus (competition highest aggregate score 1186-91x), Abigail Swain (2nd highest aggregate of 1171-79x), Virginia Byrd (6th with 1160-76x), and Skylar Sanford 1129-50x. Camden B placed 8th with total 4489-189x, led by Mason Kruger (11th with 1152-64x), Hunter Deckman (1128-47x), Cheyenne Malone (1119-51x), and Landon Strassner (1090-27x).

Top 8 individuals competed in Finals.

De Jesus fired the highest finals score of 104.1, earning top individual honors with aggregate of 1290.1. Swain tallied 97.5, aggregate 1268.5, to win 2nd. Byrd hit 95.9, aggregate 1255.9, to get 6th.

Shoutout to fellow Area 12 team, Upson Lee, for placing 2nd, and individual honors for Bailey Lifsey 5th, and William Lane 8th. Way to represent the great state of Georgia!!!

Looking forward to All-Service National Championships in Camp Perry, OH, March 22-25!

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MISS WILDCAT 2023

GIRL ON FIRE

The 2023 Girl on Fire annual scholarship competition was produced by the Camden County High School Fine Arts Department on January 27th and 28th.

A huge congratulations goes to all the contestants and especially to Lillie Reihing, who was crowned the new Miss Wildcat! Miss Reihing won $2,250.00 in scholarship funds for college.

Nineteen contestants took the stage and impressed the judges with their many talents, well-spoken interview answers, and lastly the elegant evening gown presentations. Awards were given to Riley Miller, who won Miss Congeniality and was also the pageant’s ad sales winner for this year! Emily Acebo won the People’s Choice Award, which raised over $1,100.00. Those proceeds are donated to Camden County’s Alzheimer’s Foundation on behalf of the Fine Arts Department.

The talent winner of 2023 was Aili Jonson, who was also 1st Runner up in the overall contest; Aubrey Acevez placed 2nd Runner up overall. Miss Wildcat is two nights that brings together talented contestants and their community. This special event made supporting the contestants possible, and in all, $5,300.00 was given out in total in scholarship funds. The Fine Arts Department would like to thank all the sponsors, parents, teachers, administrators, and contestants that make this wonderful event possible.

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THE RIVER'S LIVING MUSEUM Students at Crooked River Elementary School celebrated Black History Month with a Living Museum. All grade levels were able to tour and hear stories from famous African-American heroes including Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, Mae Jemison, and Ruby Bridges, just to name a few.

Students were engaged, involved, and learning. The exhibits were impressive to all, and students were excited to see the heroes they had only heard about in books. Bringing these heroes to life was a learning experience for all.

CAMDEN Camden Middle School 7th grade science classes welcomed Graham Whiteside from Anatomic Excellence in Savannah to discuss the plastination process his company uses to preserve human bodies. He brought along some specimens the students were able to interact with.

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TEACHERS OF

EVERYDAY IN CLASSROOMS ACR TEACHERS WORK TIRELESSLY TO STUDENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. LET'S AND APPLAUD OUR JANUARY

Christy Cobb

St. Marys Elementary School

Mary Lee Clark Elementary School

Sierra Jones

Jessica Rieling

Crystal Gibbs

Carly Jackson

Julia Lene Bauder

Matilda Harris Elementary School

Crooked River Elementary School

David L. Rainer Elementary School

Sugarmill Elementary School

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THE MONTH

OSS CAMDEN COUNTY, OUR ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF EVERY TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE TEACHERS OF THE MONTH!

Deborah Gray

Vonice Harrelson Lea Wheater

Kingsland Elementary School

Mamie Lou Gross Elementary School Woodbine Elementary School

Sarah June Thomas Daniel Puckett

Keri Freeman

St. Marys Middle School

Camden County High School

Camden Middle School

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ST. MARYS MIDDLE CELEBRATES FFA WEEK WITH A CARNIVAL

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15 "HEART OF A CHAMPION" LETTER JACKET CEREMONY

The second annual "Heart of a Champion" Letter Jacket Ceremony was held for the CCHS seniors who have participated in the Special Olympics, Special Steps, and Camden Miracle Field. Our amazing letter jacket recipients were greeted by cheerleaders, celebrated by their families and classmates, and recognized for their courage and kindness.

The words of Superintendent John Tucker summed up the whole evening when he shared, "we see unity in these amazing athletes who give all of themselves, who lend a helping hand, who high-five and hug every person who crosses their path. And we see it in the families, the volunteers, the teachers, and the coaches who shower our athletes with love and support."

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Crooked River Elementary Participates in One Read Program Students, teachers, and families recently participated in a One Read program where every child, every faculty and staff member, and every family read the same book! The novel enjoyed by all was the classic and beloved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There were daily trivia contests, Wonka Bars, golden tickets and of course lots of candy to go around! Best of all was the delicious and precious love of reading experienced by everyone. At the end students and teachers celebrated by watching the classic movie and dressing up as golden tickets, or characters from the novel.

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SCHOOL NOTES MAGAZINE

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SCHOOL NOTES MAGAZINE

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WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE

THERE IS A SAFE AND ANONYMOUS WAY FOR YOU TO REPORT CONCERNS ABOUT BULLYING, WEAPONS, SCHOOL VIOLENCE, OR A FRIEND'S WELLBEING.

THE CARE TEAM AT SECURLY IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

1-833-300-STOP WWW.SECURLY.COM/TIP TIPLINE@SECURLY.COM

PowerSchool Mobile App Get Grades, Assignments, and Parent Alerts Sent Straight to Your Phone.

Cou nty Cod e:

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Free Download for Apple and Android Devices.

SMILING FACES

WANTED (We will train you to do the rest.)

Visit www.camden.k12.ga.us to learn more.

The Camden County School System makes all employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability.