Madison Co. students back in class
It may be the hot dog days of August, but as of Thursday morning, summer will be officially over for Madison County school kids.
All county schools were set to begin the 2008-09 school year on Aug. 7.
Robin Hallenbeck prepares one of the bulletin boards in her new spacious room at Madison County Middle School Tuesday.
School bells ring
And without a doubt, the biggest changes this year all revolve around the opening of the new middle school.
THE NEW MADISON
COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal Matt Boggs describes his new school as “the best of both worlds.”
“It’s really three schools in one,” Boggs said. Called the “house concept,” and modeled after one of the large schools in Gwinnett County, the new middle school is divided into three sections. Likewise, the 1,100 students that make up this year’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes will be divided into thirds.
The students will stay in their respective “houses” for all three years and have the same assistant principal (called house principal), counselor and teachers.
“It gives students the benefits of a big school and the familiarity of a small school,” Boggs said.
There is a variety of new technology at the school and new clubs customary to the high school environment, such as FBLA and FCCLA, which will be available to middle schoolers beginning this year.
Agriculture, family and consumer sciences and career tech classes are being added to the middle school’s curriculum this year.
Journalism classes have been expanded to the eighth grade this year and these students will be responsible for daily news broadcasts that will complement the school newspaper that was started last year.
The school is built to accommodate 1,300 and is designed so it can be easily expanded as needed.
School hours are from 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. and car riders will also be dismissed at this time.
“We’re just really excited to be here in this beautiful new place – I’ve not seen a middle school anywhere around to match it and we want the entire community to be proud of it,” Boggs said.
New faculty and staff at the middle school this year are: house principal Georgie Bullock; teachers Phillip Archer, Wayne Baxter, Len Black Justin Burnham, Margarita Gayle, Robin Hallenbeck, Doug Kesler, Linda LaZear, Teresa McDaris, Jennifer McGreevey and Jan Thompson; paraprofessionals Dorothy Beatty, Denise Gilreath, Chris Ogletree, Landon Phillips and Stephanie Pope and head custodian Joe Ahern.
MADISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
There are no mobile units for classes at the high school this year since the entire ninth grade has taken up residence in the old middle school building next door. Called Freshman Academy, the ninth grade will have class in their own renovated section of the school.
The school day runs from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (freshmen dismiss at 3:09).
MCHS will be offering a patient care assisting program beginning this year in cooperation with Athens Technical College. Class size is limited (only 15 students this year).
All courses will be held at the high school in the health occupations classroom. Beginning second semester, students will also spend time completing clinical rotations at nursing homes or other long term care facilities.
Parking permits are $20 for seniors and $30 for underclassmen.
New faculty and staff at the school this year includes: principal Tommy Craft and assistant principal George Bullock; graduation coach Jim Spellman; teachers Daniel Bailey (freshman focus), Brian Ash and Richard Hoard (language arts), Bryan Bird and Lisa Cooner (math), Matt Berryman (social studies), Lori Baerne, Sarah LaRue, Deann Phillips, Jami Steele and Melissa Yarbrough (special ed), Nicholas Golding (chorus and band, part-time Freshman Academy), Samantha Barnum and Jacob Cawthon (art); parapro William Trimier and cafeteria worker Jessie Artist.
DANIELSVILLE ELEMENTARY
Danielsville Elementary has an enrollment of 530 this year, which includes a 20-student increase from last year with the addition of a new Pre-K class at the school.
The school day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. at both the main school and at the new Colt Academy, located in the old middle school next door.
“The Colt Academy is ready for its inaugural year,” principal Angie Waggoner said. “All shades of the middle school have faded away, leaving a bright, shiny upper elementary atmosphere. The county and the school staff did such a wonderful job in this true transformation.”
Colt Academy students (fourth and fifth graders) will arrive at the main campus, eat breakfast and then be escorted to the Academy next door. Lunch will be eaten at the Academy and at 2:45 p.m. students will return to the main campus to go home.
New faculty and staff include: teachers - Carol Clements, third grade, Tamara Appling, Pre-K, Terri Thornton, fifth grade, Linday Butt, SPED; paraprofessionals – Tracey Ingram, Kelly Lasseter, Wanda Royal and Gina Ward. Cindy Wehunt will serve as the manager of the Colt Academy lunchroom.
“We are so excited to begin this new chapter at Danielsville Elementary. The additions of the Colt Academy and Pre-K will only serve to strengthen our commitment to student achievement.
COMER ELEMENTARY
Comer Elementary has a newly installed marquee sign to greet returning students and parents. The sign will also announce upcoming events at the school and in the Comer community.
The school has received a new coat of paint to brighten the hallways and a mobile unit has been moved on campus just off the kindergarten wing. Challenge classes will be held in the mobile unit.
There are a few new faces at Comer this year, including new principal Dr. Christine Register. Register comes to Comer from Colbert Elementary, where she served as assistant principal for the last three years. Other new faculty includes kindergarten teacher Kimberly Pendergrass and speech pathologist Fran Klimek. Misty Costello, Michelle Graham, Tina Hart and Tonya Murray are new paraprofessionals. Susan Sarna has moved up to the front office.
Enrollment this year stands at approximately 380 students.
The afterschool program will feature fun education programs for all students, Dr. Register said. The program will be available from the first day of school and the cost is $6 per day. Registration forms are in the front office.
“We encourage the community to stop by and visit Comer whenever they are in the neighborhood,” Dr. Register said. “And don’t forget to watch our sign for Comer news!”
ILA ELEMENTARY
Approximately 430 students will attend Ila Elementary this school year.
“We have worked hard over the summer to beautify our school and make our community feel more welcome at Ila,” principal Lynne Jeffers said. “We have purchased new furniture and shelving for our media center, improving the look and access to books for our students.”
New faculty and staff include: teachers Kristi Horne (second grade), Amy Dobbs (third grade), Sara Kimbrell and Gina Mayne (third grade), Sara Bird (fourth grade), Shanda Ginn and Sandy Hillsman (fifth grade), Jenny Tackett (speech pathologist); paraprofessional Cindy Hawks, Zeddie Ware, custodian and Yolanda Felix and Elizabeth McWhorter, cafeteria.
“I look forward to beginning my fourth year at Ila, my second as principal,” Jeffers said. “This year we will launch our new Positive Behavior Program, rewarding students for all of their good behavior and citizenship as well as acknowledging academic success.”
Jeffers said the school will continue to focus on math, but will also work towards developing students’ writing skills.
“Ila is a wonderful school with a first-rate faculty and staff,” she added. “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with these students, parents, faculty, staff and community.”
The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.
“Ila will continue to use the same car rider procedures as used in the past for the morning drop off. Car riders may not be dropped off before 7:15 a.m.; this is 15 minutes earlier than in past years,” Jeffers said.
A new afternoon procedure for car riders will be utilized this year. Car riders will not be dismissed from the gym until after buses have left school grounds. Parents will follow the same route in the morning and afternoon. School officials say please be sure to approach the school from Church Street between the ball field and the faculty parking lot and wait at the stop sign until signaled to enter the school pick up/drop off area. During afternoon pick up, parents should wait to be directed to drive to the new pick up area behind the lunchroom (nearest the gym doors) after buses have left.
“We will be utilizing new hanging cards with imprinted information this year for parents who elect to pick up their children and these will be available at the school,” Jeffers said. “Thanks in advance for your cooperation in ensuring the safety of our children by following the approved car rider route.”
COLBERT ELEMENTARY
There are approximately 382 students enrolled at Colbert Elementary this year. The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.
The school has been spruced up with paint, signage and some new landscaping.
New faculty and staff include: teachers Kelly Brychell, Katie Tucker and Jessica Dyer (first grade), Josh McCurley and Kem Ray (third grade), Kim Huff (SPED), Amy Mooney (computer lab), Connie Reagan (media parapro) and Dwight Thomas (custodian).
“I am very excited to be here in Madison County and at Colbert Elementary and I am also excited to have Kathy Perry as my new assistant principal,” new principal Billy Heaton said. “Kathy has over 20 years of teaching experience and extensive knowledge with math instruction.”
Heaton said he has also been impressed with the parents and students he has met.
“We are going to have a great year at Colbert,” he said.
HULL-SANFORD ELEMENTARY
There are 472 students at Hull-Sanford this year. School begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.
Principal Cathy Gruetter said the faculty and staff are excited to welcome students back to school.
“We miss them over the summer,” she said. “The faculty and staff have worked hard the last couple of weeks to prepare for their return.”
New faculty and staff include: teachers Lauren Cash (kindergarten), Carol Anne Walter and Sally Rodgers (first grade), Pam Sherrer (fourth grade), Colby Moreman (special ed); parapros Kori Minish, Jennifer Foster, Candace Crane, Courtney Seagraves, T.C. Ledford and custodian Barry Carey.
THE NEW MADISON
COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal Matt Boggs describes his new school as “the best of both worlds.”
“It’s really three schools in one,” Boggs said. Called the “house concept,” and modeled after one of the large schools in Gwinnett County, the new middle school is divided into three sections. Likewise, the 1,100 students that make up this year’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes will be divided into thirds.
The students will stay in their respective “houses” for all three years and have the same assistant principal (called house principal), counselor and teachers.
“It gives students the benefits of a big school and the familiarity of a small school,” Boggs said.
There is a variety of new technology at the school and new clubs customary to the high school environment, such as FBLA and FCCLA, which will be available to middle schoolers beginning this year.
Agriculture, family and consumer sciences and career tech classes are being added to the middle school’s curriculum this year.
Journalism classes have been expanded to the eighth grade this year and these students will be responsible for daily news broadcasts that will complement the school newspaper that was started last year.
The school is built to accommodate 1,300 and is designed so it can be easily expanded as needed.
School hours are from 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. and car riders will also be dismissed at this time.
“We’re just really excited to be here in this beautiful new place – I’ve not seen a middle school anywhere around to match it and we want the entire community to be proud of it,” Boggs said.
New faculty and staff at the middle school this year are: house principal Georgie Bullock; teachers Phillip Archer, Wayne Baxter, Len Black Justin Burnham, Margarita Gayle, Robin Hallenbeck, Doug Kesler, Linda LaZear, Teresa McDaris, Jennifer McGreevey and Jan Thompson; paraprofessionals Dorothy Beatty, Denise Gilreath, Chris Ogletree, Landon Phillips and Stephanie Pope and head custodian Joe Ahern.
MADISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
There are no mobile units for classes at the high school this year since the entire ninth grade has taken up residence in the old middle school building next door. Called Freshman Academy, the ninth grade will have class in their own renovated section of the school.
The school day runs from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (freshmen dismiss at 3:09).
MCHS will be offering a patient care assisting program beginning this year in cooperation with Athens Technical College. Class size is limited (only 15 students this year).
All courses will be held at the high school in the health occupations classroom. Beginning second semester, students will also spend time completing clinical rotations at nursing homes or other long term care facilities.
Parking permits are $20 for seniors and $30 for underclassmen.
New faculty and staff at the school this year includes: principal Tommy Craft and assistant principal George Bullock; graduation coach Jim Spellman; teachers Daniel Bailey (freshman focus), Brian Ash and Richard Hoard (language arts), Bryan Bird and Lisa Cooner (math), Matt Berryman (social studies), Lori Baerne, Sarah LaRue, Deann Phillips, Jami Steele and Melissa Yarbrough (special ed), Nicholas Golding (chorus and band, part-time Freshman Academy), Samantha Barnum and Jacob Cawthon (art); parapro William Trimier and cafeteria worker Jessie Artist.
DANIELSVILLE ELEMENTARY
Danielsville Elementary has an enrollment of 530 this year, which includes a 20-student increase from last year with the addition of a new Pre-K class at the school.
The school day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. at both the main school and at the new Colt Academy, located in the old middle school next door.
“The Colt Academy is ready for its inaugural year,” principal Angie Waggoner said. “All shades of the middle school have faded away, leaving a bright, shiny upper elementary atmosphere. The county and the school staff did such a wonderful job in this true transformation.”
Colt Academy students (fourth and fifth graders) will arrive at the main campus, eat breakfast and then be escorted to the Academy next door. Lunch will be eaten at the Academy and at 2:45 p.m. students will return to the main campus to go home.
New faculty and staff include: teachers - Carol Clements, third grade, Tamara Appling, Pre-K, Terri Thornton, fifth grade, Linday Butt, SPED; paraprofessionals – Tracey Ingram, Kelly Lasseter, Wanda Royal and Gina Ward. Cindy Wehunt will serve as the manager of the Colt Academy lunchroom.
“We are so excited to begin this new chapter at Danielsville Elementary. The additions of the Colt Academy and Pre-K will only serve to strengthen our commitment to student achievement.
COMER ELEMENTARY
Comer Elementary has a newly installed marquee sign to greet returning students and parents. The sign will also announce upcoming events at the school and in the Comer community.
The school has received a new coat of paint to brighten the hallways and a mobile unit has been moved on campus just off the kindergarten wing. Challenge classes will be held in the mobile unit.
There are a few new faces at Comer this year, including new principal Dr. Christine Register. Register comes to Comer from Colbert Elementary, where she served as assistant principal for the last three years. Other new faculty includes kindergarten teacher Kimberly Pendergrass and speech pathologist Fran Klimek. Misty Costello, Michelle Graham, Tina Hart and Tonya Murray are new paraprofessionals. Susan Sarna has moved up to the front office.
Enrollment this year stands at approximately 380 students.
The afterschool program will feature fun education programs for all students, Dr. Register said. The program will be available from the first day of school and the cost is $6 per day. Registration forms are in the front office.
“We encourage the community to stop by and visit Comer whenever they are in the neighborhood,” Dr. Register said. “And don’t forget to watch our sign for Comer news!”
ILA ELEMENTARY
Approximately 430 students will attend Ila Elementary this school year.
“We have worked hard over the summer to beautify our school and make our community feel more welcome at Ila,” principal Lynne Jeffers said. “We have purchased new furniture and shelving for our media center, improving the look and access to books for our students.”
New faculty and staff include: teachers Kristi Horne (second grade), Amy Dobbs (third grade), Sara Kimbrell and Gina Mayne (third grade), Sara Bird (fourth grade), Shanda Ginn and Sandy Hillsman (fifth grade), Jenny Tackett (speech pathologist); paraprofessional Cindy Hawks, Zeddie Ware, custodian and Yolanda Felix and Elizabeth McWhorter, cafeteria.
“I look forward to beginning my fourth year at Ila, my second as principal,” Jeffers said. “This year we will launch our new Positive Behavior Program, rewarding students for all of their good behavior and citizenship as well as acknowledging academic success.”
Jeffers said the school will continue to focus on math, but will also work towards developing students’ writing skills.
“Ila is a wonderful school with a first-rate faculty and staff,” she added. “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with these students, parents, faculty, staff and community.”
The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.
“Ila will continue to use the same car rider procedures as used in the past for the morning drop off. Car riders may not be dropped off before 7:15 a.m.; this is 15 minutes earlier than in past years,” Jeffers said.
A new afternoon procedure for car riders will be utilized this year. Car riders will not be dismissed from the gym until after buses have left school grounds. Parents will follow the same route in the morning and afternoon. School officials say please be sure to approach the school from Church Street between the ball field and the faculty parking lot and wait at the stop sign until signaled to enter the school pick up/drop off area. During afternoon pick up, parents should wait to be directed to drive to the new pick up area behind the lunchroom (nearest the gym doors) after buses have left.
“We will be utilizing new hanging cards with imprinted information this year for parents who elect to pick up their children and these will be available at the school,” Jeffers said. “Thanks in advance for your cooperation in ensuring the safety of our children by following the approved car rider route.”
COLBERT ELEMENTARY
There are approximately 382 students enrolled at Colbert Elementary this year. The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.
The school has been spruced up with paint, signage and some new landscaping.
New faculty and staff include: teachers Kelly Brychell, Katie Tucker and Jessica Dyer (first grade), Josh McCurley and Kem Ray (third grade), Kim Huff (SPED), Amy Mooney (computer lab), Connie Reagan (media parapro) and Dwight Thomas (custodian).
“I am very excited to be here in Madison County and at Colbert Elementary and I am also excited to have Kathy Perry as my new assistant principal,” new principal Billy Heaton said. “Kathy has over 20 years of teaching experience and extensive knowledge with math instruction.”
Heaton said he has also been impressed with the parents and students he has met.
“We are going to have a great year at Colbert,” he said.
HULL-SANFORD ELEMENTARY
There are 472 students at Hull-Sanford this year. School begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.
Principal Cathy Gruetter said the faculty and staff are excited to welcome students back to school.
“We miss them over the summer,” she said. “The faculty and staff have worked hard the last couple of weeks to prepare for their return.”
New faculty and staff include: teachers Lauren Cash (kindergarten), Carol Anne Walter and Sally Rodgers (first grade), Pam Sherrer (fourth grade), Colby Moreman (special ed); parapros Kori Minish, Jennifer Foster, Candace Crane, Courtney Seagraves, T.C. Ledford and custodian Barry Carey.
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