Villa Rica Schools Proud to Celebrate 2012-13 School Year Accomplishments

Cluster announces next school year's theme and the expansion of the schools' broadcast news program. End Quote

Atlanta, GA (1888PressRelease) July 09, 2013 - Teachers and students from the Villa Rica School Cluster received numerous accolades and awards throughout the 2012-2013 school year. The Cluster of schools, which includes Bay Springs Middle School, Glanton-Hindsman Elementary, Ithica Elementary School, Sand Hill Elementary, Villa Rica Elementary School, Villa Rica Middle School, and Villa Rica High School, announced that its theme for the 2013-14 school year is "We Are VR… Expect Success." In addition, the Cluster announced it's launching of the student-led WeAreVR-TV channel to share school news with the community of large.

"This was an amazing year for all of the Villa Rica area schools," said Charles Johnson, principal for Villa Rica Elementary School. "We've celebrated so many accomplishments, accolades and awards for both our students and teachers during the 2012-2013 school year. This reinforces everything that is great about Villa Rica High School and all the feeder schools that encompass the We Are VR Cluster."

Johnson continued, "We are also thrilled to announce that each school will host a community activity that demonstrates the 'Expect Success' commitment to our children. The entire community is invited to participate in the various events and can help through donations and sponsorships."

Next year, Villa Rica Schools will continue to emphasize a top notch educational experience that leads up to an excellent college preparatory program, as well as extensive and diverse athletic programs. In addition, they will introduce a new career development program, The Kids ARE the News that Matters.

At every level of the education system, Villa Rica schools will be enriching the School Broadcast News program. In August, the public will be allowed to watch the WeAreVR-TV news programs and learn about the week's news from all the Villa Rica schools by visiting www.WeAreVR.com. The students involved in the program will learn how to write and report news stories, in addition to creating and selling advertising.

Highlights during 2012-13 from each of the seven schools in the Villa Rica Cluster include:
• Bay Springs Middle School
- Peace Essay, sponsored by the Lions Club, is a local and state-wide contest that was won by sixth grade student Alexis Croy.
- Academic Team won the Carroll County Academic Team Championship for the fifth time in the past seven years.
- Soccer team went undefeated and won the co-ed Middle School Championship.
- CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) scores led all Carroll County Middle Schools and were higher than the system and state averages.
• Glanton-Hindsman Elementary
- 4th & 5th graders increased their Math CRCT meets/exceeds scores by 13%.
- 4th & 5th graders increased their Math Exceeds by an average of 10%.
- Math Parent Workshop received accolades from across the county and state for work in helping parents understand how to help their children with math concepts.
- Cup stacking skills learned in PE utilized by two students to compete and place in a national competition. Alex Kinard placed 4th and Sydney Kinard placed 5th.
- Teaching Young Children magazine is publishing an article by Mary Reid, Pre-K teacher. The story, "What's Green and Hops? Parallel Writing in Pre-K," was published in the June 2013 issue.
• Ithica Elementary School
- "Highest Performance Reward School" as recognized by the State Department of Education.
- CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) scores ranked significantly higher than the system and state averages.
- Home Depot grant recipient for "facilities beautification."
- "Georgia Young Authors Writing" competition named two students as first place winners on the county level.
- Service project that involved every extra-curricular club or group resulted in providing resources to eight different organizations.
• Sand Hill Elementary
- Volunteered approximately 6,800 hours.
- Students school-wide not only met but 46% exceeded state-required performance.
- Donations by students and staff reached almost $6,200 this school year.
- Discipline referrals decreased by 26% from previous year.
- New facilities including a gymnasium and an administration/classroom wing to open next fall, following 1½ years of construction.
• Villa Rica Elementary
- Named a "High Progress Reward" school by the State Department of Education.
- CRCT math scores for 5th graders increased 23% from 2012 scores to 100% meets and exceeds. 5th Grade Reading and English Language Arts also scored 100% meets and exceeds. Social studies scores increased 18% from 2012 scores to 92% meets and exceeds.
- 5th ELA was at 100% meets and exceeds.
- STEM club founded with 82 members, who conduct science and engineering experiments.
- Music teacher, Geoffrey Harden, awarded $1,000 grant to create string instrument opportunities with the music classroom.
- Named as a National "Energy Star" school.
• Villa Rica Middle School
- Academic team placed second in the district-wide middle school competition.
- Boys' basketball team finished as runner-up in the championship (small school division).
- Named a "High Progress Rewards" school by the State Department of Education.
- Writing scores improved for 8th graders by 6%.
- Named as a National "Energy Star" school.
- Initiated two new student clubs: Builder's Club and Drama Club.
• Villa Rica High School
- Both the Concert and Symphonic Bands earned Superior Ratings in concert performance and sight reading at the "Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluations".
- Boys Head Basketball Coach Jason Robinson and Girls Head Basketball Coach James Bailey were both named "Times-Georgian Coaches of the Year."
- Girls Volleyball Coach, Lisa Ogide was named "Region Coach of the Year".
- FBLA had two teams place during competitions at the "State Leadership Conference" - Banking and Financial Systems (Christin Jackson and Alaina Terry placed 6th) and Parliamentary Procedures (Myishia McKey, Joshua Clark, Bailey Stegall, and William Emedosi placed first, which qualified them for the national event in California).
- Biochemistry and the Surgeon General's Certificate of Appreciation in the Field of Prevention at the "State Science Fair" was awarded to Natalie Rakoski her project "Gluten Free - Expense Extracted." Natalie was also one of two students from the state to attend the prestigious National Youth Science Camp. Natalie becomes the second VRHS student in a row to be selected for this camp. Last year, Tommy Hannah was selected for this honor.
- "Georgia Young Author's Writing Competition" system-wide winners were junior Abbigayle Mathis (The Rhetoric of Ernestine L. Rose) and senior Jackson Bernhardt (Acceptance).

The Villa Rica School Cluster consists of Villa Rica High School and its six feeder schools.

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