Smyrna-Vinings schools rack up awards

Today's roundup of Smyrna-Vinings school news is all about accolades beginning with a grant recently awarded to . On Feb. 2 the school received a $5,000 grant from IBM. The school earned the grant because of its Keep Smyrna Beautiful community service project held last October. Over the course of two weeks about 30 PTA volunteers and 25 IBM volunteers beautified the King Springs campus by painting the exterior siding, removing trees, planting flowers and retrenching a dry riverbed.

The grant money will be used to purchase computer software and Scholastic News for each student. PTA normally covers these expenses, but now that money will be applied toward renovating the blacktop and basketball court behind the school.

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was among 16 Cobb County Schools honored by the state education department as 2012 Advanced Placement Honor Schools. Campbell was selected as an AP Access and Support School, meaning at least 30 percent of AP test-takers identified themselves as African-American or Hispanic and scored 3 or higher on the test. It was also honored as an AP STEM School, which means students test in at least two AP science and math courses.

Campbell also received designation as an AP STEM Achievement School, meaning that of the students taking two AP science and math tests 40 percent scored 3 or higher. AP classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also gives the SAT. AP classes offer rigorous, college-level learning options to students in high school. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams may receive college credit.

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’s Helen Ruffin Team took first place at this weekend’s regional competition at the University of West Georgia. Helen Ruffin teams are competitive readers who compete to read and buzz in the fastest.

The state-level competition will be held Saturday, March 24 at University of Georgia during its Children’s Literature Conference. However, Campbell Middle School will have to take first place at the divisional competition Saturday, Feb. 25 to advance to the state-level.

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Several Westminster Academy students signed letters of intent on National Signing Day last Wednesday, Feb. 1. Sam Jowers signed to play football for Georgetown Unviersity while his teammate Raymond Monasterski will play for Washington and Lee. Baseball player Mitchell Brister will also head to Washington and Lee next fall.

Lacrosse player Shelton Collier committed to the Air Force Academy, while fellow LaxCat Kelley Russell made her decision to attend Kenyon College. Joining her at Kenyon: Sean Smith who crossed the finish line with his decision today, opting to run cross-country there.

Katherine Kerman will swim for the Yellow Jackets at Georgia Tech, while Rachel Astles plans to swim at the University of Pennsylvania. Frank Love will dive at The United States Naval Academy this fall. Diana Turbayne penned her decision to attend Princeton in the fall for crew.

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Registration is now open for The Lovett School’s American Studies Institute 2012 teacher workshop, which will be held at the school June 7 and 8.  The headlining speaker is National Public Radio’s Mary Louise Kelly. Early bird registration for the workshop ends March 30, but registration is open through May.

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