Three local schools recently partnered with Sip Wine Riverside to sponsor an “adult night” out for school parents and staff members. Proceeds from the fun and relaxing child-free event were divided between Griffin Middle, King Springs Elementary, and Nickajack Elementary schools in order to support Rachel’s Challenge and other PTA projects. Rachel Scott was the first person killed in the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy in Colorado. SIP General Manager Cliff Sinon was instrumental in the success of the event, which featured a wine tasting and delicious tapas buffet. Tonight, Nickajack and …

Scott Sweeney's first meeting as chairman of the Cobb Board of Education on Wedesday will feature an old subject.  David Banks, Sweeney's fellow East Cobb representative on the school board, wants to move up the start of the 2012-13 school year two weeks to Aug. 1.  His proposal is one of many items on the first regularly scheduled work session of the year, and it rehashes the familiar school calendar arguments that occupied much of the school board's activity last year.  But as The Marietta Daily Journal indicated on Tuesday, it's unlikely Banks' move will garner much support on the board, …

An online survey is being offered by the Cobb County School District to help develop plans that address the needs of students. "Feedback from staff, parents and community members is important to the school strategic planning process," a news release says. "Your participation in (the) School Improvement Survey will provide feedback about the quality of educational services and programs in our schools." Responses are anonymous, and the results will be given to the principals later this year to help identify priorities. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. To take the survey, click here…

The Cobb School Counselor Association has selected Nathan Schult of Campbell High School as School Counselor of the Year for 2011.  Each year, the organization selects recipients from three levels - elementary, middle, and high school.  The Cobb School Counselor Association includes professionals in elementary, middle, and high schools, the Marietta school system, private schools, and colleges in Cobb County.  The purposes of the Cobb School Counselor Association include providing extensive student/school support services, offering professional advancement opportunities, cooperating with …

Sorry kids—and maybe hooray for many parents—the winter break comes to a close Tuesday as Cobb schools reopen their doors. There’s a chance for showers, with thunderstorms possible after 1 p.m., the forecast from the National Weather Service shows. The high is at 65 degrees, while the low tomorrow night is 50. Parents and students shouldn’t expect anything out of the ordinary at the county level, schools spokesman Doug Goodwin said. “There’s nothing new,” he said. “We’re just looking forward to a positive start to the second semester.” Anything that changed from the first semester would be …

Two Campbell High School reporters for the Spartan Chronicles have had their writing selected for the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) National Edition. The two seniors, Courtney Britton and Jeremiah Jones, were chosen for the compilation of the best student journalism for December 2011 from 400 high school journalism programs. Britton was selected for "If I Were A Poor Black Kid"...EXCUSE ME?, her editorial response to a Forbes magazine columnist. Jones was chosen for a commentary on the Penn State scandal. Seniors Work Ready Certified Eighty-eight seniors at CHS have been designated …

Don’t forget that residents are invited to join the Cobb County Board of Education and Cobb County School District officials on Wednesday night for the final south county redistricting forum. The meeting will be held at South Cobb High at 6:30 p.m. The single draft map which consolidated the two redistricting proposals of south county elementary schools was released in mid-November. District officials would like to hear additional input from parents, whose children attend the affected elementary schools. No final decisions have been made regarding the proposed redistricting plan. In addition …

Residents are invited to join the Cobb County Board of Education and Cobb County School District officials on Wednesday for the final south county redistricting forum. The meeting will be held at South Cobb High at 6:30 p.m. The single draft map which consolidated the two redistricting proposals of south county elementary schools was released in mid-November. Under the last proposal, Brown Elementary and Fitzhugh Lee H.A.V.E.N. Academy in Smyrna will be closed. Brown students would attend the new Smyrna elementary school set to open in 2013. Meanwhile, Fitzhugh Lee H.A.V.E.N. Academy, …

The Rotary Club of Vinings continued its fervent support for the Cobb Adult Education Center this month, presenting a substantial donation to the center to be used for General Education Development (GED) scholarships for adult learners in the community. The Adult Education Center provides literacy education, remedial instruction, ESOL courses and the GED program for adult students in Cobb County. The center’s goal is to attain a “Fully Literate Georgia” ready for work, a strong community, and strong families. Since January 2009, the Vinings Rotary Club has donated more than $5,000 to the …

Campbell High School is fortunate to have so many different cultures, religions, and ethnicities that coexist peacefully amongst the staff and students. To celebrate Campbell’s diversity, the school recently staged its popular International Festival. The event featured a Parade of Nations and a presentation by senior poet and rapper Isaiah Hunter that can be found here. Check out The Spartan Chronicles for a full report on the International Festival. _______ Randy McClure, a CHS science department head and head girls’ basketball coach, was recently presented with a plaque after being selected…

After receiving its first planning grant from the Georgia Department of Education, the Smyrna Academy of Excellence submitted a $2.55 million grant application to the GA DOE Race To The Top (RT3) Innovation Fund on Nov. 1. Georgia RT3 is a $19.4 million fund that provides competitive grants to support new approaches to school improvement. The purpose of the RT3 Innovation Fund is to support partnerships that develop or implement innovative and high-impact programs aimed at producing positive outcomes for students. Additionally, the state intends to use the Innovation Fund to determine best …

Following summer testing, nine additional Cobb County schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) including Sprayberry and Wheeler high schools, but not Campbell High School. The Georgia Department of Education provides updated AYP status and information for schools after CRCT retests (for elementary and middle) and summer graduates (for high school) are factored in. The addition of the nine schools means that 90 of 110 Cobb schools met the sharply increased targets required for AYP. For the first time since the inception of No Child Left Behind, the Cobb County School District met all …

Don’t forget that the Cobb County School District will conduct a pair of meetings this week to discuss the redistricting alternatives for elementary schools in the south part of the county. The meeting for Phase 1 schools, including Russell Elementary is set for Tuesday at Pebblebrook High School at 6:30 p.m. The meeting for Phase 2 schools, which include the remaining Smyrna elementary schools including the new one scheuled to open in 2013, will be Wednesday at Campbell High School at 6:30 p.m. In addition to attending public forums, concerned citizens can share their input on the public …

After speculating all summer, students, parents and teachers have a better idea of how South Cobb elementary schools will be redistricted for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years. Tuesday the Cobb County School District posted two maps to its website each outlining the redistricting alternatives for elementary schools in the south part of the county. Both alternatives propose closing Sky View Elementary School in Mableton. They also propose closing Brown Elementary School as a traditional elementary school. The H.A.V.E.N. Academy, a special education program that is currently located at …

Cobb School Board of Education Chairwoman Alison Bartlett is set to host a town hall meeting tonight at Osborne High from 6-8 p.m. The school is located at 2451 Favor Road. Bartlett’s Post 7 includes Green Acres, Russell and Norton Park elementary schools. _______ Staying on the subject of Russell, all are invited to help the school celebrate its 50th birthday on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. There will be music, games, bounce houses, food and much more. There will be an alumni room where guests can mingle with teachers and students, plus self-guided tours of the school where an exhibit on the…

It’s Homecoming Week at Campbell High School. This year’s theme is “Old Hollywood.” Tickets to the homecoming dance went on sale today. There will be homecoming festivities at the school all week and the homecoming parade on Friday will roll through downtown Smyrna. Floats line up at 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. The homecoming football game against North Cobb High School follows the parade at 7:30 p.m. The homecoming dance takes place Saturday, Oct. 1 in the cafeteria. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. The Lovett School’s students need to …

Monday, Sept. 19 is a faculty in-service day for The Lovett School's middle school students. There will be no class for middle school students. The Lovett School’s lower school students have a new report card this year. Parents can come to an informative session to learn about the changes. There are two sessions Monday, Sept. 19 in the Hendrix-Chenault Theater, one at 8:30 a.m. and on at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Sept. 22, fifth graders will leave for their overnight field trip to Mentone, Ala. Sixth graders will also be taking an overnight field trip to Chattanooga, Tenn. Lovett is also hosting …

Campbell High School will hold Georgia High School Graduation Test retests throughout the week of Sept. 12. The retest of English language arts will be Monday, Sept. 12; math will be Tuesday, Sept. 13; science will be Wednesday, Sept. 14; social studies retest will be Thursday, Sept. 15; and Friday, Sept. 16 will be the make-up day. CHS Spirit Night at Varners is Thursday, Sept. 15. Spirit Night will be every third Thursday of the month from now on, so add it to your calendar. Whitefield Academy has released a list of Upper and Middle School students who made the Headmaster’s List with an …

Campbell High School got a facelift this summer. CHS students can now enjoy a renovated auditorium, a resurfaced gym floor and stage, a new sound system in the gym with wireless microphones and new directional signs to the athletic fields and the back parking lots. The projects were funded by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax III. The CHS horticulture program has added corporate plant care to its curriculum. Students will learn about the field of corporate plant care where technicians visit offices on a weekly or monthly basis to maintain foliage and floral designs. And the Campbell …

International Academy of Smyrna is asking local merchants to donate gift certificates and other items for use as prizes for the school’s Fun Run, Saturday, Sept. 9. The school is also seeking cases of bottled water to pass out to the runners. Norton Park Elementary School students should start practicing their best smiles now. School pictures are Thursday, Sept. 1. Tuesday, Aug. 30, is School Night for Scouting from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Teasley Elementary School in the cafeteria. Friday, Sept. 2, is College Kick-Off Spirit Day at Griffin Middle School. Students and teachers are …