Grant aids school program

Dawson County and Riverview middle schools are starting after-school tutoring programs for qualified students this week. Through funds provided by The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Grant, Dawson County Schools have been able to offer specialized services to children classified as "homeless," which is defined as any student without a stable residence.

Lanier Tech leadership award showcases adult students

Students win theater awards

The Dawson County Arts Council earned national recognition during the 2012 Junior Theater Festival, a celebration of on-stage and backstage excellence last month in Atlanta. "[The Junior Theater Festival] is the only festival of its kind," said Dawson County Junior Theater Director Nathan Gerrells. "It is a weekend of celebrating the achievements of kids who have chosen to participate in theater."

Riverview honors vets through documentary

Seventh-grade students at Riverview Middle School have begun a semester-long project to interview veterans about their experiences during the Vietnam War. Inspired by the 61 names listed on the Dawsonville Wall of Honor at Veterans Memorial Park, Maria Faircloth's gifted language arts class is calling the documentary "More than a Name on the Wall."

Speller goes to district

From Carol Helton's perspective, a positive new trend emerged in this year's Dawson County school system spelling bee. "The thing I noticed that the contestants did differently was the number of times the contestant asked for a definition or a sentence," said Helton, one of the three judges in the bee Friday at Dawson County Middle School.

Systemwide spelling bee is set for Friday

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100 and counting

Riverview Elementary kindergarten and first-grade students celebrated the 100th day of the school year by dressing up as if they were 100 years old. Kindergarten and first-grade classes lined-up in the main hallway at 9 a.m. Monday and paraded outdoors as students in the higher grades gathered in the hallway to watch.

Local schools help set new world record

During the early morning hours of Oct. 12, 2011, the ground shook under the feet of more than 2,000 elementary and middle school students. The students were participating in a global effort to set a Guinness World Record for the most people doing jumping jacks for a full minute within a 24-hour period. According to the recently released Guinness totals, 300,265 jumpers participated worldwide in the Let's Jump! event.

Lecture series returns

A popular educational series is returning this month. Great Decisions, an annual public educational program, will be presented by North Georgia College & State University for eight weeks beginning Jan. 26 at the Forsyth County Public Library System.

Board of Regents OKs college merger

ATLANTA - It was standing room only at last week's Board of Regents meeting as students, faculty and administrators from eight University System of Georgia institutions waited with bated breath to find out the fate of their universities. Less than an hour into the Jan. 10 meeting, the proposed college mergers became official.

Schools receive Title I honors

All four of Dawson County's elementary schools have received Georgia Title I designation from the state Department of Education. And three of the schools - Black's Mill, Kilough and Robinson - have maintained their status as Title I Distinguished Schools for a seventh consecutive year, according to a recent state report.

Students honored for willingness to learn

Dozens of students at Dawson County High School were recognized recently for their enthusiasm to learn and willingness to achieve. The Tiger Awards are given each semester to students who demonstrate an enthusiasm for learning, are willing to put out extra effort for the sake of doing a good job and are willing to help others achieve.

Group invited to showcase talent

The Dawson County Arts Council will be well represented later this month at the 2011 Junior Theater Festival at Cobb Galleria in Atlanta. The invitation only event brings together more than 3,000 students, teachers and Broadway professionals to raise their voices in celebration of on-stage and backstage excellence in musical theatre.

County nearing GED goal

Dawson County is closing in on becoming a Certified Literate Community. In order to be designated a Certified Literate Community the county must serve 1,638 adults with level completions or GEDs in a 10 year period, according to Reading Education Association of Dawson Director Sandy Lipkowitz.

School system receives district achievement

The AdvancED Accreditation Commission has determined the Dawson County School System meets the Accreditation Standards for a Quality School System. Superintendent Keith Porter read the commission's resolution and presented the school board with a plaque to mark the achievement during the board's monthly meeting Monday night.

School board approves budget

The Dawson County Board of Education on Monday approved a $32 million budget for fiscal year 2014.

Cadets LEARN the law

Madison Anglin may only be 10-years-old, but she has a plan for her future.

A new journey

Dawson County High School's class of 2013 said goodbye to their alma mater Saturday morning as they set off on their "journey of a lifetime."

Grads ready to walk

Three days stand between more than 200 students and the next chapter of their lives.

Longtime educator retires

Friends and family gathered Sunday to honor a longtime Dawson County teacher and member of the Georgia Agriculture Education Hall of Fame on his upcoming retirement.

Jr. fire academy seeks cadets

Upcoming sixth- through ninth- graders interested in learning what it takes to be a firefighter are encouraged to sign up for Dawson County Emergency Services' Junior Fire Academy.

Tentative ’14 budget approved

The Dawson County Board of Education on Monday approved a tentative $32.3 million budget for fiscal year 2014, which represents a drop of about $3 million from 2013.

Junior police academy accepting applications

Spaces are quickly filling for Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle's annual junior law enforcement academy.

Fifth-graders graduate as C.H.A.M.P.S.

Fifth graders from across the county graduated as C.H.A.M.P.S. during a ceremony and celebration May 6 at Dawson County Middle School.

Dance raises money for childrens books

The weather may have been chilly on April 27, but the dancing and barbeque helped keep everyone warm.

Local high school seniors honored

It was a night of checks, medals and chords for Dawson County High School seniors as students attended an event in their honor.

Stars head of class

Two Dawson County stars - one on the basketball court and the other on standardized testing - finished a close race for head of the class after three years of competing.

Media center dedicated to late historian

Members of the local education and historic communities gathered last week as Robinson Elementary dedicated its media center to the memory and life's work of a late friend.

Honor given to teacher

Dawson County High School chemistry teacher Laura Hendrix was recently named 2012-2013 Chemistry Teacher of the Year by the Northeast Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society.