Harvey, a senior baritone planning a career in vocal performance, won first place in the upper high school men's classical category. He also won the upper high school men's musical theatre category. "This is the first time one person has won both categories," said Charles Hernandez, Mary Persons' Choral Director.

 

Because of his wins, Harvey soloed twice in the Winner's Recital held at the Bailey Performing Arts Center to conclude the competition. His rendition of Man of LaMancha brought cheers from attending crowd.

 

Miss Nix, a freshman soprano, took the honors in the upper high school women's classical category.  

 

All competitors in the classical category were required to sing three songs of contrasting styles and languages before a panel of 3 NATS certified vocal judges. Each was also required to sing in at least two languages: Italian, English, French or German. At the conclusion of the competition round, each singer received detailed feedback from each judge about his or her performance.

 

Hernandez, in his fifth year as director of the Mary Persons Choral Program, said, "Sometimes people don't realize that singing can be competitive like more traditional sports. These singers' hard work and artistry represents Mary Persons with excellence. We are proud and excited to see their newsworthy talent recognized publicly."

 

At the encouragement of Mr. Hernandez, both Harvey and Nix also take private voice lessons. Both are students of Marie Jarriel Roberts an acclaimed opera singer and adjunct lecturer at Mercer University's Townsend School of Music.

 

Harvey is the son of Scott and Shannon Gordon of Forsyth. Nix is the daughter of Steven and Amy Nix of Forsyth.

A  refreshed Experience Online Testing Georgia website is now available with a demonstration test for each of three grade bands - grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and high school - with sample items from each content area.  While the 3-5 and 6-8 grade bands will contain Science and Social Studies items, please be reminded that these two content areas will be assessed in grades 5 and 8 only.  The primary purpose of this website is to provide exposure to the online platform that students will utilize when taking the Georgia Milestones tests.

 

The highlight of this year's refresh of the site are examples of multiple-part, multiple-select, and evidence-based selected-response items. These item types will be operational soon. 

 

It is important to understand that the items that comprise the demonstration tests are general in nature and reflect multiple grade levels.  Given the purpose of this site is to acquaint students with the navigation of the online testing process, the items are generic and are not necessarily reflective of the range of content or challenge that students will experience when taking the actual Georgia Milestones tests.

 

 

 

All you need to do to access a test is to select the Test Practice button, select Online Tools Training and Test Practice under End-of-Course (EOC) or End-of-Grade (EOG).  For both EOG and EOC, you will have the option to explore the Standard Online Tools or the Online Accommodations of Masking, Contrasting Color, and Color Chooser.  You will find these under "Options" at the bottom of the screen.  If you select EOG, you will also select a grade band (3 - 5 or 6 - 8).  You will find the username and password on the login screen itself for the selected demonstration test.  Enter that information and click Sign In - and you are ready to go!  Additional information can be found on the Experience Online Testing Georgia page under Documentation.