Griffin Middle School Teams with Smyrna Rotary

Submitted by Narayan Sengupta

Photo (Left to Right): Paul Powers, Jeff Mason, Don Parkerson, Jeffrey Tucker, Raymond Coffman, Tracy Efaw and Mark Trachtenbroit (both of Griffin Middle School), Darl Champion, Scott Auer and Ed Chupp.

Perhaps as many as one-third of Smyrna’s children are educated at Griffin Middle School, located on King Springs Road near South Cobb Drive. The school has recently made dramatic improvements, earning awards and recognitions at the school level and also for the academic accomplishments of its students. It still faces challenges, which is where corporate and civic partners such as the Smyrna Rotary Club have stepped in.

“Griffin is a wonderful school,” says Rotarian Narayan Sengupta. “But it needs more community involvement. It has 1,240 students. When companies in Smyrna will need employees or customers, there is a good chance that they will come from Griffin. The better their students, the better our community’s long-term success and prosperity. We were wondering what we could do.”

So under the leadership of Club President Scott Auer, the Smyrna Rotary Club has provided a $4,500 grant, its largest ever to a school in Smyrna. “Our club and members have had a long-term focus on education and partnering with our local schools, so providing the science and technology kits fits our service goals nicely.” says Auer.

Funds will purchase calculators, LEGO Mindstorm kits, Solar Science kits, Snap Circuit kits, Weather Stations and some Rasperry Pi kits. The LEGO Mindstorms are robotics kits and the Rasperry Pis are small credit card sized computers that plug into keyboards monitors and USB devices allowing children to learn about computers and programming. Some kits will be awarded directly to students at recognition events.

“The recent donation from the Smyrna Rotary to the Griffin Science Club will help reestablish this student group,” says Principal Dr. Mark Trachtenbroit, who has headed the school since 2012. “Funds will be utilized for supplies and support materials as Griffin begins competitions in October 2014. The students are diligently working to bring victory to Griffin and to showcase the incredible talent at the school. This organization depends on the generosity of the community to be able to have a successful program. This donation sets Griffin students on the right path.

“Focusing on science and technology is an important opportunity for the long-term viability and success of Smyrna,” remarks Sengupta. “These are very smart kids. Let’s give them the best learning tools. This is a modest start. There are other parents and companies who are doing all that they can to support Griffin Middle School, ensuring that there will be more to come.”

If you would like to get involved in supporting Griffin Middle School, then contact Griffin’s Principal Dr. Mark Trachtenbroit at mark.trachtenbroit@cobbk12.org or Smyrna Rotary Club at f12@nfiweb.com.