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Teacher inspires learning with creative approach

Writing is an important part of Tracy Eye's language arts class at West Jackson Middle School.

The West Jackson Middle School classroom of Tracy Eye was busy with activity on a recent Friday as students composed letters using an educational online software program.

In Eye’s class, the reading and writing workshop, using the Nancy Atwell Model, is utilized to connect students’ interests with their lessons. The class meets the state standards for language arts but better engages the students in learning, says Eye,

The students spend considerable class time developing their writing skills.

Last week, the task at hand was to write a persuasive letter to a company or sports team requesting some type of product. Students could pick any restaurant, store, celebrity or team to write a letter of request.

In Eye’s class, students have the freedom to do assignments they wouldn’t get to do in another classroom.

Continue reading Middle school writing is major focus for Tracy Eye

Students at South Jackson Elementary School enjoyed hamburgers made from beef raised on Lazy B Farm in Statham as a part of the "Cows in the Cafeteria" program

Lazy B Farm’s hamburgers were served to the students of South Jackson Elementary School on Jan. 26 as part of “Cows in the Cafeteria,” a non-profit, grass-roots organization that focuses on providing local beef to Georgia school children.

“Cows in the Cafeteria” purchases steers from local farmers, processes them into hamburgers and then donates the beef directly to the local school cafeteria.

South Jackson Elementary School served up the tasty hamburgers which students described as awesome. But the experience of Cows in the Cafeteria extended well beyond lunchtime.

Continue reading Locally-grown beef provides tasty learning experience at South Jackson Elementary (with slide show)

GAINESVILLE– Two area residents have been selected as finalists in the prestigious Miss Brenau scholarship competition at the Women’s College of the 134-year-old institution. The competition is scheduled for Feb. 3 and 4 on the Gainesville campus.

Among the finalists are Kasey Victoria Atkins of Jefferson and Amy E. Walls of Braselton.

Atkins is majoring in dance studies and is a member of Delta Delta Delta.

Walls, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, is majoring in education.

Continue reading Atkins, Walls finalists in Miss Brenau scholarship

No decision final on Commerce campus

The Jackson County campus of Lanier Technical College in Commerce is being considered for closure as the Technical College System of Georgia examines cost-saving options.

Mike Light, executive director of communications for the Technical College System of Georgia, said satellite campuses with full-time enrollment of less than 200 students are on a list being reviewed.

“This is an ongoing process and none of it is certain until the General Assembly finalizes the appropriation for the TCSG in the FY13 state budget,” said Light. “At that point, if the funding is insufficient, then our decisions on those campuses and centers on the list, including the Jackson County campus, will be made on a case-by-case basis.”

The educational budget belt-tightening coming from the State Capitol in Atlanta is continuing. A University System of Georgia’s proposal to save money would merge eight college campuses, including Gainesville State College in Oakwood with North Georgia Colege & State University in Dahlonega.

Responding to dwindling funds, the technical college system has consolidated 15 of its colleges into nine to save money on administrative costs in the past several years, said Light.

The Jackson County facility has a FTE of 101. If the facility was shuttered, projected annual savings would be $262,600, Light said.

“If and when a decision has to be made, the TCSG would first give careful thought to comparing the cost to operate the campus versus the importance of the facility to the community that it serves, including the need for adult education programs,” said Light.

Jefferson, Ga.— There are only a few days left for students to apply for Jackson EMC’s three scholarship opportunities.

Jackson EMC offers three scholarships, the A.T. Sharpton Restricted, the A.T. Sharpton Unrestricted and the Walter Harrison Scholarship. A.T. Sharpton applicants may also apply for the Walter Harrison Scholarship as long as the requirements are met. Winners will be chosen by a scholarship committee, which will carefully review each application to select the most qualified candidates, based on academic ability, extra-curricular activities, autobiographical sketch and recommendations.

All scholarship recipients must be a customer of Jackson EMC or the son or daughter of a customer, and must also be a resident of the home served by Jackson EMC. Other criteria for each of the three opportunities are available on our website. Multiple $1,000 scholarships will be awarded throughout Jackson EMC’s service territory.

Students interested in applying for any or all of these scholarships should contact their high school guidance counselors/office or complete the application online at www.jacksonemc.com/scholarships or at www.ngcf.org. The deadline for applications is Jan. 20.

For more information about Jackson EMC’s scholarship programs or to learn more about the company’s commitment to the community, please visit the websites for all the details and FAQs, or contact Callie Flack at cflack@ngcf.org.