VOLUME 3 ISSUE 25 / MARCH 10, 2016
Time for sophomores
to order class rings

It's time for CHS sophomores - the Class of 2018 - to order class rings. Order taking begins March 17. Learn more

Pre-K registration
begins March 21

Carrollton Elementary School will have lottery registration for prekindergarten for the 2016-2017 school year beginning Monday, March 21, through Friday, March 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Children must be four years old on or before Sept. 1 and reside in the city limits of Carrollton to be eligible for Pre-K. Required documents to enter the lottery include parent ID, proof of residence (gas, water, or power bill; or current lease), child's birth certificate and child's Social security card.

Non-residents may apply after March 30. No appointment necessary.

Time to register
for kindergarten

CES kindergarten registration for the 2016-2017 school year is under way. To set an appointment, please call the registrar's office at 770-832-2726. Non-city resident students may apply, too.  Learn more

SAT Word 
of the Week 

vindicate 
(vin-di-keyt)

As used on the SAT, its meaning is: to free from blame. 

Here it is used in a sentence:  Excommunicated from the Catholic Church for his scientific theories, history would eventually vindicate Galileo and remember him as one of the great minds of scientific thought.


Szymkiewicz named
to list of Top 100 STEM students nationwide
Carrollton High School senior Dorothy Szymkiewicz has earned the prestigious recognition as one of the top 100 STEM high school students in the nation.

The ranking organization, STEM Premier, on March 4 released its annual national list of top science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) high school students. Students from all 50 states with STEM Premier profiles were ranked and rated based on an algorithm of more than 30 profile metrics including achievements, experiences and more.

The final selection of students represents 32 states and include: Presidential Service Award Winners, National Merit Scholars, Girl Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Members of HOSA, 4-H, FBLA, DECA, and members of Mu Alpha Theta. Other top students included participants in competitions hosted by SkillsUSA, TSA, First Robotics, Siemens, Intel, VEX Robotics, and Cyberpatriot. The top 100 students not only reflects a full range of diversity, but more than 50% are female. 

"Dorothy Szymkiewicz is an exceptional student all around, and is especially passionate about STEM," said Dr. Mark Albertus, CHS principal. "To be included in a nationwide ranking of this scale is remarkable, but no surprise. We are very proud of her accomplishments and even prouder to claim her as one of our own."

Just last week in this same space Dorothy was featured for her experience performing with her dance troupe in China during the Chinese New Year celebration Chuwan on Feb. 7, the only U.S. company invited to perform there.

Dorothy's interests are varied - and wide - as the comparison between the STEM honor and her performing arts prowess demonstrate. But her fascination with STEM shows up on many fronts. She was selected for Georgia's Governor's Honors program in the subject of mathematics last summer, she is completing her second year as a Southwire Engineering Academy intern and is a leader on the high school's ROV team. Plus, she has taken numerous Advanced Placement classes in all disciplines. As for college, she hasn't announced a decision, but received early acceptance to MIT.

Dorothy is the daughter of Wei Jin and Paul Szymkiewicz.
   
STEM Premier is an online platform solution that assists students in designing a career pathway, educators in recruiting top talent to their schools and employers in developing a stable, continuous talent pipeline. The platform allows students ages 13 and up to build personal profiles showcasing their skills and talents so colleges, technical schools and companies can connect directly with students.

Full list of the national Top 100 rankings
PLC CORNER
Communities in Schools supports the PLC
Last year Carroll County lost a $1.7 million investment when 216 kids did not graduate high school, according to Cynthia Langley, executive director of the local Communities in Schools organization.

Langley, at right, spoke to the Rotary Club of Carrollton this week to update the club on the latest accomplishments CIS has made in Carroll County. CIS has a presence at two locations in the county at this time - our Performance Learning Center and Villa Rica High School.

Even though the graduation rate in the county has improved as compared to the state average of 72 percent (Carrollton City at 87 percent and Carroll County at 82 percent), still 216 students countywide did not graduate last spring, said Langley.

"In my opinion, that's still a lot of kids," she said. "Let me tell you what will happen to these 216 kids," she said. "They will be eight times more likely to commit a crime, more likely to receive welfare and won't be eligible for 90 percent of new jobs being produced today."

Communities in Schools provides a site coordinator at each location it serves. PLC's site coordinator is Carrie Olinger, who just completed her first year here supporting PLC Principal Mrs. Aprill Jones-Byrd. 

"Our goal is not to reinvent the wheel," said Langley. "Our goal is to find the resources that are available to help these kids not only in school, but beyond the classroom." 

The local program, now in its fourth school year, has 174 students receiving services at the PLC and VRHS. Last spring, 85 percent were promoted to the next grade. This success at the PLC and at VRHS will allow CIS to expand its presence in two more schools - Temple High School and Central High School next school year.  Learn more about CIS

This year's motto:

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."

Abraham Lincoln