NEW PRINCIPAL APPOINTED FOR MULBERRY CREEK ELEMENTARY

HAMILTON, GA (JUNE 22, 2021) -- The Harris County School District’s Board of Education has approved Amy Allen as the new principal for Mulberry Creek Elementary School in Cataula, Ga.

As the 2021-2022 school year marks her 26th year as an educator, Allen will be re-joining the Mulberry Creek family after serving as the assistant principal at Creekside Intermediate School since 2018.

About the appointment, Allen shared, “Having previously been a teacher at Mulberry Creek Elementary for 14 years, I am excited about the opportunity to work with students, faculty, staff and community members as I begin to serve in my first principalship. In this role, my goal is to raise the bar of achievement even higher than it is today as well as see us reach certification as a STEAM school.”

Superintendent Roger Couch commented on the appointment, “Having served here as a teacher for many years and as an assistant principal at Creekside, Principal Allen brings a wealth of district experience to the position. We are proud to have her within our District and at Mulberry Creek Elementary.”

Allen, a Columbus State University graduate, taught in the Muscogee County School District for six years. In 2003, she accepted a position within the HCSD as a Kindergarten teacher and began in that position in January 2004 at Mulberry Creek.

She will be assuming the position previously filled by the retiring principal, Beverly Weaver.

Denise Fox has been selected to fill Allen’s assistant principal position at Creekside, where she has most recently been teaching sixth grade math. She also has previously taught at Harris County High School and for the Muscogee County School District.

Allen, her husband, and their family have lived in the Fortson community for more than 10 years. Of their four children, two are graduates of Harris County High School and the other two are currently students within the District.

Classes will resume for the 2021-2022 academic year on Friday, August 6, 2021. Prior to that date, students and parents will have the opportunity to meet Allen at a Sneak-a-Peek event. Details will be released closer to the event.

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Georgia.  For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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About the Harris County School District

Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves 5,500+ students who live in the communities of Cataula, Ellerslie, Hamilton, Hopewell, Pine Mountain, Shiloh, Waverly Hall, West Point, and other areas within the county. It does so with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).

SECOND DOSE CLINIC FOR COVID-19 VACCINE ANNOUNCED

HAMILTON, GA (JULY 5, 2021) – For those who participated in the June 17^th COVID-19 vaccination clinic, it is time to receive the second dose, including for participating students aged 12 and older.

This event will be Thursday, July 8, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria of Harris County High School (8281 GA Highway 116 Hamilton GA). Pre-registration is not required. Participants should enter and exit through the back parking lot to access the cafeteria.

“We are excited for those who were vaccinated with their first dose to return for the second dose of the vaccine. After the second dose and two weeks pass, they will be fully vaccinated,” said Shelia Baker, assistant superintendent of student services. “We are grateful for the willingness of these participants to use this opportunity to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. We also are thankful for the partnership of the West Georgia Department of Public Health and our Harris County Health Department to make this opportunity available for our students, parents, and staff.”

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be given. The Pfizer consent form is required for all persons aged 12 and older and must be completed each time the vaccine is administered. Those participating in the clinics must remain in a waiting area 15 minutes after the vaccine is administered for monitoring purposes. Parents are encouraged to be present with students; however, parents are not required to be present with students who have consent forms that have been signed by a parent/guardian.

In addition to HCSD students, the clinic is available to district employees, which includes all certified and classified staff, bus drivers, School Nutrition Program staff, ABM staff, active substitutes, community coaches who serve as assistant coaches in a HCSD program as well as the spouses of these individuals. 

Questions should be directed to Shelia Baker, HCSD assistant superintendent of support services. She may be reached at baker-s@harris.k12.ga.us.

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Ga. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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About the Harris County School District
Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves 5,500+ students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HONORED IN 2021 THIRD DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

HAMILTON, GA (JULY 12, 2021) – Two Harris County High School (HCHS) students were recognized by U.S. Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.) as part of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition.

Senior Rhayne Offenback placed third for the district for her piece titled “Natural.”

 

Lila Vasquez was named a runner up for her entry titled “Golden Molasses.”

 

“I am amazed at the talent and creativity of the pieces entered in this year’s competition,” Ferguson said. “My office received 84 entries from high school students from across the Third District. Thank you to all the students, parents, teachers, sponsors, and everyone else in the community who participated. Your contributions made the 2021 Congressional Art Competition a competition to remember.”

The Third District includes all or part of 13 counties in west central Georgia.

Sponsors for this year’s competition include Carroll EMC, Central Georgia EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Diverse Power, GreyStone Power, Snapping Shoals EMC, Southern Rivers Energy, Upson EMC, Georgia Transmission Corporation, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Southwestern Airlines, and the Art Institute of Atlanta.

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Ga. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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About the Harris County School District
Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves 5,500+ students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).

HARRIS COUNTY FFA PROGRAMS ACCOMPLISH SUCCESSFUL YEAR

HAMILTON, GA (JULY 13, 2021) – The FFA Chapters at both Harris County High School and Harris County Carver Middle School saw a great deal of success during an unconventional year, including:

• For Vet Science, our High School placed 1^st in Area and the Middle School Team Placed 2^nd; both schools competed at the State.

• Agriculture Education Competition – Bailee Tracy placed 2^nd in the State Competition. 

• Zak Woods placed 2^nd in Lawnmower Driving and advanced to the State Finals. 
• Lawson Smith placed 1^st in the 11^th – 12^th Grade Food Science Division of the Georgia FFA Agriscience Fair and is advancing to the National Judging Process. 

• Lawson Smith also was elected to serve as a Georgia FFA Vice-President from the Central Region. 
• Harris County Carver Middle School Students that were represented at the state level for their record book in Supervised Agriculture Experience were: 
  • Brinlee Bowden – Home and Community Development Gold Emblem 
  • Jacob Dennard – Power, Structures, Technical (Picnic Tables) Gold Emblem 
  • Christina Diamond – Equine Production Gold Emblem 
  • Jackson Phillips – Poultry Production Gold Emblem 
  • Cam Tyus – Crop Production (Sugar Cane) Gold Emblem 
  • Jaxon Haralson – Sheep Production Silver Emblem

• Harris County High School Students that were competed at the state level for their proficiency in their Supervised Agriculture Experience were: 
  • Ashley Bowden – Equine Science Placement, 3^rd Place 
  • Jacob Carnley – Turf Grass Management, 3^rd Place 
  • Trevor Douthit – Fruit Production, 3^rd Place 
  • Madison Henderson – Agriculture Communications, 3^rd Place 
  • Zakary Woods – Forage Production, 2^nd Place 

• Five students were awarded their Georgia FFA Degrees. 
• This summer, the Harris County Ag STEAM Farm hosted the eStars STEAM Camp and 3^rd– 4^th grade students from each Harris County Elementary Summer Enrichment Program for tours and STEAM Activities including forestry, animal science, plant science, and ag business. 

With specific regard to the annual convention, Jay Borden, HCHS FFA teacher and FFA Sponsor, shared, “Though 2021 was definitely not a ‘normal’ Georgia FFA Convention, we are so grateful for the experience. On Friday of the event, we were able to watch the sessions together virtually. Then, on Saturday we were able to attend two sessions in person at the Macon Centerplex, which made for a great convention.”

New for this coming academic year:

• Harris County Carver Middle School is welcoming Jasmine Durbin as the new agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. She will take over for Mrs. Cook who has taken the agriculture education position at Carver High School in Columbus.  
• Harris County High School is welcoming Julia Gonzalez as a second agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.
• A new course offered at the high school for this year is Agriculture Leadership. Students will learn the basics of agribusiness and personal development. Students also will travel to each elementary school to teach students in grades K – 4 about agriculture. This course will be added to the offerings of Basic Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, and Animal Science Biotechnology.  
• In addition, the fledgling Middle School Program put three record books on stage for State Recognition, and watched former Harris County High School Agriculture teacher, Mike Turner, enter the Georgia Agriculture Teacher Hall of Fame.

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Georgia.  For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

 

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Photo: HCCMS on stage at the convention accepting their award.
Image 6144: HCCMS FFA accepting their award at the State Convention (left to right) - Mrs. Cook, Brinlee Bowden, Jackson Phillips, Anslee Tidwell, Jaxon Cummings, and Christina Diamond

 

About the Harris County School District

Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves 5,500+ students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).

CREEKSIDE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE AND WIN AT ENGINEERING COMPETITION

HAMILTON, GA (JULY 13, 2021) – Creekside Intermediate School students sweep a category at the Kia “A World In Motion” (AWIM) competition.

Students were invited to take part in an exciting program that was provided by SAE International, which is in partnership with Kia.  AWIM is an award-winning program that provides students with an opportunity to take on the role of an engineer and compete in the AWIM's Engineering Design Experience.

Principal Lindie Snyder shared, “Creekside brought their A-Game! We took Gold, Silver, and Bronze in the category of Accuracy.”

The Creekside winners were:

Gold:  Team “Dora And the Explorer 66” made up of Reese Gonos, Charlie Lewis

Silver:  Team “The Glizzy Mobile” made up of Spencer Franklin, Jacoby Risinger, Lucas Manan

Bronze: Team “Right On Track” made up of Emma Couturier, Sara Jones, Bailey Rae Shavers

 

Due to COVID, the competition took place at each school versus at the Kia West Point Assembly Plant in West Point, Ga. In May, all the fifth-grade students had the opportunity to take part in the activities, which are a part of a school district initiative to involve and engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  

Each year a different 5^th grade tribe participates on behalf of Creekside. This year, due to COVID, all students were able to participate virtually.  Students engaged in fun and creative activities such as the construction of the JetToy cars in class. The students received all the supplies to construct the car and had the opportunity to compete in three different categories:  Distance, Accuracy, and Creativity. 

The Harris County School District is in Hamilton, Ga. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or call 706-628-4206.

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About the Harris County School District
Georgia’s Harris County School District is an accredited K-12 school system based in the county seat of Hamilton, Georgia. It serves nearly 5,500 students with four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school, and one performance learning center. With a vision of “one community committed to educational excellence for every child,” Harris County School District continually strives to provide students what they need to become the future workforce and society. For more information, visit www.harris.k12.ga.us or the Facebook or Twitter pages (@HCSDga).