Cherokee County School District Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Ball Ground ES STEM Academy

The Cherokee County School District on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 cut the ribbon for its newest facility: Ball Ground Elementary School STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Academy.

The new school on Valley Street in the city limits contains 146,403 square feet of space, including 74 instructional units/classrooms, and can accommodate 1,200 students.  The facility, which was designed by Manley, Spangler and Smith Architects and constructed by Hardin Construction, is equipped with computer labs and music, art and family living classrooms, a media center, cafetorium and gymnasium.  Construction was funded by Education SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) revenue.

Ball Ground ES is one of the School District’s six new Cherokee Academies, which opened this school year to continue increasing the academic choices available within the system. 

“Ball Ground Elementary School, through its strong relationship with the community and embracing of STEM, is an outstanding example of how we can celebrate history and heritage while still providing students with the education they need to succeed in the careers of tomorrow,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo said. “The school was in great need of replacement due to its age and location, and we deeply appreciate the support of the City of Ball Ground and the entire community in seeing the dream of opening a new school within the city become reality.  I’m also delighted by the recent agreement by the School Board and City of Ball Ground for the former school to become City property so the site will continue to benefit the community for many years to come.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured the presentation of colors and Pledge of Allegiance by local Boy Scouts; the recognition by Principal Doug Knott of special guests including School Board Chairman Mike Chapman and Vice Chairwoman Janet Read, School District staff, Principals, Ball Ground Mayor Rick Roberts and Ball Ground ES alumni including Georgia Supreme Court Justice Keith R. Blackwell and Cherokee County Superior Court Judge N. Jackson Harris; dedication remarks by Assistant Superintendent for School Operations Dr. Brian Hightower; remarks by Lucille Rich, representing the Ball Ground School Alumni organization; and a musical performance by third- through fifth-graders that earned them two standing ovations.

The musical performance, which was inspired by the story of The Lewis and Clark Expedition, highlighted the STEM knowledge students are gaining, and how it is woven into other core subjects such as Social Studies.  Students completed a hands-on engineering exercise during the performance, which also included a skit, an original song and a medley of covers of popular songs rewritten by staff to celebrate STEM and the new school.

Following the ceremony, the school presented its first-ever Fall Expo to raise awareness among parents/guardians and the community of the ongoing activities and student accomplishments associated with its STEM Academy.  Bi-annual Expos will be presented at each Academy every fall and spring semester.  During the Expo at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, students and parents participated in a variety of STEM-related activities and labs and saw how video conferencing can link classrooms to global learning opportunities.  The labs ranged from a hands-on activity to learn the engineering process by making vehicles out of vegetables to creating a personal talking avatar using Voki technology.

Ms. Rich, during her remarks, spoke of the high expectations the school’s alumni have for graduates of Ball Ground ES STEM Academy.

“We expect students to become life-long learners,” said Ms. Rich, who also is a retired educator.  “We expect students to step out of their comfort zones… and strive for new challenges.”

The Fall Expo 2012 at Canton ES is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8.  The event is open not only to students and their families, but also to anyone from the community who wants to learn more about the Cherokee Academies initiative.