|
|
Leveraging WHS PARENT POWER
Every issue of the Connections eNewsletter provides another glimpse into the incredible talent, commitment, accomplishments and potential of the collective student body at Walton High School. It is truly inspiring to share these stories and to reflect on the impact that dedicated teachers, committed administrators and an engaged parent population can have on our children. From sports boosters to front desk volunteers, the parents of Walton High School are critical to our school's success.
Apart from their students, WHS parents are pretty amazing in their own right. Highly educated, successful, talented, with diverse and expertly honed skill sets, and dedicated to developing an environment at Walton that cultivates excellence in our children, WHS parents present enormous potential to advocate and effect change in the education system at large.
It is a critical time in education on both the state and national levels. From a state perspective, Governor Deal appointed a Education Reform Commission (ERC) that has been meeting all year to set a new course for education in Georgia. The various subcommittees have been reporting back to the full commission, and in the next two months, the ERC will make their recommendations to Governor Deal regarding the direction of education in Georgia. GA PTA is alarmed by the preliminary proposals coming out of this Commission. Specifically, they are predicting higher class sizes, especially in Grades 1-8, higher property taxes to make up for lack of adequate state funding and fewer high quality, experienced teachers in the classroom.
Providing a quality education to every student is one of our most fundamental responsibilities as a society. It is vital, not only because of the enormous impact education has on each individual life, but because of the necessity of an educated workforce to insure a high quality of life to our nation. It is not enough to make sure our students at WHS are offered every opportunity to excel. To maintain and increase our standard of living for our children and even to insure our commitment to an open, free and secure society, we must constantly strive to make our education system the best that it can be.
Developing an efficient and effective education policy is not easy. Its complexity is only rivaled by its vital importance in our lives and the lives of future generations. And, it will only be improved when ALL the stakeholders roll up their sleeves and wade into the fray. As parents, we can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and allow others to make policy that has such a dramatic impact on our families, our county, our state, and our nation.
Many of us are hesitant to get involved because we feel we don't fully understand the factors driving education policy, and we don't have the time to research these issues on our own. As a first step to developing parent competencies on the issues we are facing, the PTSA and Foundation are sponsoring an Education Forum on Nov. 10th at 7:00pm in the Theater. Dr. Dana Rickman, Policy and Research Director for the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Rickman will give our community an overview of the current status of educational funding in our state and explain how these decisions will affect the classrooms at WHS.
Additionally, there will be an Educational Issues article in the upcoming editions of the WHS Connections eNewsletter, giving a composite look at the top issues facing education in our state and nation with links to more in-depth resources for your exploration. There is an unlimited potential for positive change vested in the parents of Walton High School. To learn more about leveraging your power to improve education, click here: Advocate for Education
This publication is funded entirely by the WHS PTSA. No public funds were used to convey this message.
|
 WHS VOLLEYBALL ADVANCES TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!
Join the Lady Raiders tomorrow, Oct. 31, as they face rival South Forsyth in the GHSA Volleyball State AAAAAA Championship! The Raiders shutout Peachtree Ridge and then Etowah in the playoffs. Ranked #1 in the State and #31 in the nation, the Raiders are favorites to win the final match-up.
Come out and give your support to this outstanding team! GO RAIDERS!
Where: Marietta High School
When: 4:00 pm on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Tickets: $7 at the door
|
WHS Drama Presents a Fall Musical
Kiss Me, Kate 11/5; 11/7; 11/8!
Divorced Broadway stars Fred Graham (Everett Johnson) and Lilli Vanessi (Nicole Vignone) agree to star in a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" alongside rising young actors Lois Lane (Alison Hollenshead) and Bill Calhoun (Seth Robbins). Backstage complications build due to a romantic misunderstanding between Fred and the soon-to-be-remarried Lilli, while Bill's gambling debts cause other troubles outside the show.
Year after year, Walton Drama brings alive musicals and drama productions at a level far exceeding that of the average high school. Under the leadership of English teachers/Directors Susan Griffin and Joymichelle Green, students are pushed to strive higher and work harder. These teachers dedicate so much of their time and heart to these productions, inspiring drive and passion in the students. Walton consequently earns nominations annually in the Georgia High School Musical Theater (Shuler) Awards competition, which is Georgia's "Tony Awards" for high schools. Costume design and construction is headed up by the amazingly talented Michelle Baumann, a Walton Social Studies teacher.
Since school kicked off in August, the directors, cast, crew, and parents have been hard at work in production and rehearsals of Kiss Me, Kate. Whether the conflicts, mishaps and misunderstandings between characters get resolved will only be revealed at the performances, so come be a part of the audience and support your classmates!
Tickets are on sale now at TICKETS ($15 Reserved Seating; $10 General Seating). General seating tickets will also be available during lunch sales in the Commons next week and at the Door. **Note: We honor our 4.0 Walton students with the opportunity to come see the Saturday matinee (11/7 @ 2 pm) for FREE! (You must show your 4.0 pass and ID, please!)
Jacqui Willey, Walton Drama Booster Club
|
|
WHS PTSA SPONSORED SELF-DEFENSE CLINICS
On Wednesday, November 11, the PTSA is sponsoring two self-defense and awareness clinics. One is for the Walton Community and is open to students, teachers, parents, and friends from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Dickerson Middle School for a reduced rate of $39 per person. WHS students who have taken on-line health classes may take this course free of charge. The second class is a FREE Senior Girls' Self Defense class from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. during WEB on November 11th in the Auxiliary Gym. Steven Spivey of Max Defense believes anyone can learn to use the "great equalizers: adrenaline and fear," to successfully defend themselves against a stronger opponent. For more information and to register, go to Self Defense.
|
|
Walton Senior Named to Georgia Trend's
Top 40 Under 40
|
| | Chad Carrodus Accepts Award |
Georgia Trend Magazine recently honored their 2015 group of 40 outstanding Georgians under the age of 40 at a ceremony held at the Fox Theater. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed gave the key note address, congratulating this year's honorees from the fields of business, government, politics, nonprofits, science, healthcare and education. And the youngest award winner, Walton's own Chad Carrodus, proves that you're never too young to make a difference!
Chad believes that everyone has a gift that needs to be shared. This belief motivated him to found the Atlanta Children's Charities, which connects youth volunteers with service organizations. He is also a Fatherless Daughter Project board member and enjoys sharing his vision of servant leadership with others. Speaking to many groups around the state, including Emory University's Goizueta Business School, Chad encourages others to find a way to make a contribution. "My passion for community service primarily stems from gratitude. I go to a great school, I have a wonderful family, and we have food on the table," he says. "I have all these gifts, so I need to give back."
Chad plans to study finance in college and hopes to eventually start his own private equity firm. When asked where he sees himself at 40, he hints at an interest in politics. Wherever life takes him, it is clear that Chad will always strive to make a difference!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WaltonStrong
RED RIBBON WEEK
WHS observed National Red Ribbon Week this week with posters showing the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse among famous people. This annual awareness campaign began in 1985 as a response to the vicious kidnapping and murder of US Drug Enforcement agent, Enrique Camarena. When his mother asked him not to join the DEA because of the dangerous drug cartels, Camarena famously replied, "I can't NOT do this. I am only one person but I can make a difference." The red ribbon symbolizes Camarena's determination to stand up and be counted in the war against the devastation of drug and alcohol abuse in our nation. The PTA has embraced this program and includes a Red Ribbon week observation in every PTA program of work.
Consider these facts:
* Alcohol is a factor in the 3 leading causes of death among 15 to 24-year olds; motor vehicle crashes, homicides and suicides.
* Alcohol use is the number one drug problem among young people.
* Youth who drink before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.
* Almost 10% of youth who try marijuana at age 14 or younger become addicted to illicit drugs as adults.
* Marijuana accounts for 3/4 of teen drug use. Overall, marijuana is the most popular drug among users of all ages, though more than half of users said they had also tried cocaine, heroine or other illegal drugs.
This year's theme is "Respect Yourself! Be Drug Free!" For more information about the Red Ribbon Program or how to talk to your teen about drug and alcohol abuse, click RED RIBBON.
|
Walton Career Coaches Needed:
THE WHS PTSA invites parents and alumni to join our team of Walton Career Coaches. As students uncover career paths that are of interest to them, the PTSA would like to bring together our community to offer our students the opportunity to investigate the options that are of great interest to them. Therefore, we are creating a team of Walton Career Coaches! We are hoping that you will join this team to help our students further investigate the different paths open to them. As a Walton Career Coach, you will have the opportunity to help mentor Walton students as they begin exploring their future careers. You can decide how you would like to mentor these students and how much time you would like to give. It could be an exchange of emails or an informational interview or a shadowing opportunity. That is up to you as the Coach. For more information and to join this important team, please click Coaches.
|
|
The WHS Website, eBlast,
Connections and The Raider Review
are paid for by funding from your
Visit Our Website to Learn more about Walton's PTSA
|
|
