February 2013 |
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We Recognize
DECA Takes 2nd in Region Competition
In January, Brookwood hosted the DECA Region Competition. DECA is an international organization for marketing students. Eight high schools competed and, overall, Brookwood came in 2nd place, earning 1st place in 8 out of 20 of the events. Congratulations to the following students who will be advancing to the DECA State Competition in February.
1st Place
Jessica Barton - Principles of Marketing
Caitlin Costello - Principles of Business Management and Administration
Kevin Tian - Business Services Marketing
Lydia Bruce - Food Marketing
Daniel Komoroski - Hotel and Lodging Management
Ali Sakhyani - Human Resource Management
Alex Lister - Restaurant and Food Service Management
Ezra Gebrekidan - Retail Merchandising
2nd Place
Christian Gochnauer - Principles of Finance
Taylor Bennett - Marketing Management
Cityana Demase - Retail Merchandising
Charlotte Wilson - Business Speech
3rd Place
Haley Luther - Accounting Applications
Nneka LaBarrie - Restaurant and Food Service Management |
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We Play
Gamer's Club Has Inaugural Meetiing
A new student-initiated club has formed at Brookwood and has developed bylaws, rules and weekly meeting themes, all focused on playing games. The Gamer's Club, sponsored by Mr. McDaniel, will discuss the gaming industry, gaming culture and will play the newest games. The group will meet on Tuesdays after school in A43. At the first meeting, the group played a Wii U game called Crash Course and a Pokemon game played on DS and 3DS systems. If your student is interested in joining this new group, he or she will need to bring a signed permission slip to his or her first meeting. More info and permission slips are available on the club's website. |
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We Excel
JV Academic Team Takes 3rd
The academic teams competed at Dorman High School in Spartanburg in January. Our JV team placed third out of 72 teams from six states. Please congratulate members of the team: Felix Joseph, Kaushik De, Asad Lalani, Ryan Chen, Ordain Ravula and Jack Obeng-Marnu.
Science Olympiad Wins in Dramatic Fashion
In January, the Science Olympiad Team competed against the best teams in the state at the Brookwood Invitational. The event ended in a dramatic fashion.
Brookwood's team found itself tied with its biggest rival, The Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology. According to Science Olympiad rules, when a competition ends in a tie, the tie is to be broken by comparing the number of gold medals won. Based on this tie-breaking rule, Brookwood won the competition, four gold medals to two.
In December, the team competed in the Shades Valley Invitational Science Olympiad and dominated the field by placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall at the tournament. Broncos finished in first place in 17 out of 23 events. It was a great performance by the entire team. |
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We Celebrate
Students of the Month Named
Congrats to the December and January Students of the Month. These students were chosen by BHS teachers and staff for motivation, achievement or acts of service. They will celebrate at a pizza party in their honor later this semester.
December winners
Mako Tomioka, Josh Lyons, Safa Sofia Dabbas, Anthony Choo, Ryan Whitfield, Jason Melyanets, Payton Wilson, Hank Cohen, Derrick Carswell, Yannira Duran, Noah Forbes, Jenna Medcalf, Jalyn Wharton, and Ky Priester.
January winners
Farhan Dhanani, Josh Johnson, Sally Seo, Sophia Le, Chris Dancy, Tad Cameron, Derrick Carswell, Austin Bond, Emily Ruengvivatpant, Micah Henson, Villair Barrett, Kaleisha Watson, Becky Santiago and Will George. |
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We Applaud
STAR Student & Teacher Named
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Eric Yao has also just been named as a candidate for the prestigious Presdiential Scholars Program. |
Congrats to our STAR Student, Eric Yao. This honor is bestowed on the student with the highest SAT score. Eric scored 2380 on the SAT. Eric chose Dana Kling as his STAR Teacher. We are proud of them both.
Laboni Hoque Runner-Up for Computing Award
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Laboni Hoque |
Sophomore Laboni Hoque was Runner-Up for the "Aspirations in Computing" award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology. |
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We Earn
Musicians Selected for Elite Ensembles
Two Brookwood Jazz musicians were selected for the All State Jazz Band. This is an especially selective process since only two Tenor Saxes and two drummers are selected from across the entire state. Steven Ren earned the 2nd Tenor Sax slot and Austin Agar earned the first alternate drums position.
Band students Kevin Choi (first chair), Bryton Merritt (4th in orchestra), Steven Ren (2nd chair) and Drew Hooper (4th percussion) were selected for the All State Band/Orchestra. And, the following string musicians were chosen for All State or Honor Orchestras.
Ian Chen - All-State Violin
Emma DeJarnette - All State Viola
Cody Lavallee - All-State Bass
Ian Chen - Honor Orchestra Cello
Jenny Choi - Honor Orchestra Violin
Lindsey Garrett - Honor Orchestra Violin
Wayne Kung - Honor Orchestra Violin
David Warth - Honor Orchestra Violin
Lastly, twelve Broncos were chosen for the All State Chorus. They were: Devyn Crawley (6 year All State member), Maddy Stanitzke (perfect score), Jenna Medcalf (perfect score), Maddie Stueve, Katie Howard, Shelby Cole, Landry Goodgame, Allison Davis, Anthony Kelly-Taylor, Bakari Culbreath, Thomas Walker and Daniel Boitey.
All State ensembles performed at the Georgia Music Educators Conference in Savannah in January. |
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 A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL DEBBIE DEES
Greetings!
After I write this month's letter, I will prepare for a meeting tomorrow morning with our administrative team. Every Friday, the twelve of us gather to track our progress and tackle our challenges.
I suspect that your high school did not have eleven assistant principals. Neither did mine. But, much has changed in the way we educate. Each year, better data becomes available on student achievement and today's APs, all excellent former teachers themselves, are adept at "steering the ship" and "adjusting the gauges" to reach students in new ways.
How does this administrative team set goals for Brookwood students? It's probably very much like your business. We analyze our results (volumes of reports divided and subdivided by every criteria you can imagine) and develop measurable goals for improving student success.
Brookwood has four APs in grade level offices, but discipline is only part of their responsibility. Those in grade level offices also handle critical areas like emergency planning. Other Brookwood APs cover specialty areas like curriculum, attendance or testing.
Above all else, supporting teachers is the number one goal for the entire administrative team. (It's the job of every non-teaching staff person in the building.) We work to eliminate the distractions that take away from a teacher's focus on what needs to happen in the classroom. At least a dozen policies are in place to allow our students the advantage of bell-to-bell instruction.
After school hours, our APs attend school events. During the school year, there is a banquet, concert or game most nights. That's a lot of late nights for folks who are at work before 6:45 a.m. every morning!
I'm lucky to work with such a dedicated group. This team has set up our school and our students for success.
Warmly,
Debbie |
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We Honor
Congratulations to 2013
Valedictorian & Salutatorian 
Please join us in congratulating our Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
Valedictorian:
Taylor Allen
(left)
Salutatorian:
Justin Dumrongkulraksa (right) |
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We Speed
Congratulations to Brookwood Swim and Dive teams. Girls took 2nd place in the county championships. Boys took 4th. |
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We Lead
 | | Adonis Smith, Daijah Proby & Denise Mungomba |
Black History Significance Club Attends MLK, Jr. Events
Members of the BHS Black History Significance Club attended the United Ebony Society's "Character and Service" event in January. Club member and Brookwood senior Rasanna Rouse's essay was chosen to be read at the event. The next day, the group marched in the MLK, Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville. |
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We Compete
Last weekend, our Special Olympics Basketball Team competed in the Special Olympics Winter Games in Marietta. In the photo, our Broncos take on the Walton County Warriors and win 22-18. Both teams had a lot of support from families & volunteers alike. |
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We Shine
Talent Show Participants Wow the Audience
Missed the Talent Show? Check out the Top 3 acts. These winners were chosen by audience vote.
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1st place winners were Tyler Harp, Greg Myers, Tyler Fleming and Joel Myers. |
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2nd place winners were "Snaps & Claps" members Katie Reid, Ryan Eichwald, Reed Champion, Daniel Kim, Gabriella Schuett, Lauren Sigler and Courtney Sharp. |
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3rd place winners were Parker Greenway, Payton Fite, Gabe Elenteny, Danny Hawkins and Christian Gochnauer. |
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We Create
Art Commissioned for Media Center
After seeing her winning artwork in the PTSA Reflections Contest, Media Center staff commissioned freshman Iris Liu to paint this piece to hang permanently in the Brookwood Media Center. |
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We Care
Students Volunteer Time and Talent During the Holidays
In December, members of the National Honor Society raised $243 for Brookwood's Helping Hands & Hearts campaign by donating their time and gift wrapping skills at Pro Bass Shop at Sugarloaf Mills. During December, many projects like this one helped to raise $14,192.90 for HHH.
Also during the December, members of Musical Theater shared their talents by singing holiday favorites for residents at Eastside Gardens Assisted Living. |
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