September 2013 |
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We Applaud
Students of the Month
Congrats to our Students of the Month. The following students were selected by BHS staff for achievement, motivation and acts of service.
William McWhirt, Austin Dye, Jessica Johns, Dakota Sealock, Kristen Marsh, Brittney Duffy, Alex Yang, Adonna Janay Smith, Blake Chavis, Allison LaMontagne, Mohammad Ali, Nicholas Hartley and Sheridan Schuster |
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We Perform
String Students Chosen for Elite Orchestras
Congrats to these string students chosen for the Kendall Youth Orchestra: Annie Lee, Carson Cushwa and Hava Shlimak.
In addition, these students were chosen for the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony: Jackie Lenz, Mako Tomioka, David Warth, Maria Ilyayeva, Alec Buchinski
and Thomas Nguyen.
Students Selected for Camerata
Chase Fretwell, Ansley Hunter, Jenna Medcalf, Jordan Nichols, Autumne Sneed, Rachel Wagner and Samantha West. You can look forward to hearing them sing The National Anthem at the Homecoming Game. |
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We Serve
Varsity Football & Cheerleaders Serve "Seniors"
In August, the Brookwood varsity football team and football cheerleaders served dinner to the residents of Ashton Hall Assisted Living. This tradition, going back at least fifteen years, allows the teens to interact with the residents as they share the hospitality and the meal.
According to Head Football Coach Mark Crews, "It is a great opportunity for our team to give of themselves, consider its blessings, and help brighten the day for those who live there." One resident, W.O Thompson (father of chorus teacher Kim Peeples and avid high school football fan) remarked, "The young people who served the meal were some of the nicest I've encountered in quite a while. It was so great to see bright, talented athletic young people who take the time to reach out to others." |
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We Encourage
Program Receives Grant to Encourage Student Entrepreneurship
Students in Entrepreneurship class will try their hand at running small businesses, thanks to a $9,500 grant from Gwinnett County Public Schools. The grant funds received from GCPS will be allocated for the costs to attend internships, conferences, field trips and business meetings, and to purchase instructional technology. In the class, students will create and run their own small entrepreneurial business concluding the year with a "Shark Tank" style business pitch at Snellville City Hall for the chance to win investment funds. The student's final grade is based on their business pitch, along with their corresponding business plan and documentation. |
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We Speed
Two Broncos Named Among Gwinnett Super Six for Cross Country
Congratulations to boys cross country runner Josh Ingalls and girls team member Laurel Sumner. Both are named among the Super Six for Cross Country in the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Josh maintains a 3.83 GPA and can run a 5K in 16:08. According to the Gwinnett Daily Post, he emerged as one of the state's top runners last season by finishing 15th at the state meet. He took fourth at the region meet to help Broncos claim the region title. He had a strong track season where he won region crowns in the 800 and 1,600-meter runs. Coach Ben Dehnke says, "Josh is a cerebral athlete who loves being a part of a strong team. His understanding of the sport of distance running, innate ability and willingness to work hard make him a terrific athlete to coach."
Laurel maintains a 3.83 GPA and can run a 5K in 19:57. According to the Gwinnett Daiy Post, she made great strides last season to become one of the county's top runners. She finished 13th at county, 6th at region and was 16th at state to help the Broncos claim the state championship. Coach Chris Carter says, "Laurel has been a staple of our varsity since her freshman year. She is extremely coachable and, underneath her calm, kind exterior, she's highly competitive. Laurel is an extremely nice kid. There is nothing coaches like more than to see the nice, hard-working kids find success. Laurel certainly falls in that category." |
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A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL DEES
Greetings!
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We have a lot to cheer about when it comes to our school. (Student fans at the Dome game in photo.) |
We are only a few weeks into the new year, but we have already enjoyed some very big events in our community. The whole cluster gathered for a game at Coolray Field for the second annual Brookwood Cluster night at the Gwinnett Braves. The following weekend, it seemed like the entire population of Lilburn, Lawrenceville and Snellville was at the Georgia Dome for the Corky Kell Classic. When so many show up at these types of events, I am reminded just how blessed we are to live and work in such a vibrant community that supports the school and its students. Our teachers are bringing that same kind of energy to the classroom. They are working hard to connect content and kids to make the act of learning dynamic and compelling. Our next big community event is the schoolwide Open House on September 9 at 6:45 p.m. We'll open our doors to you to show off what's happening at school. I guarantee you'll come away impressed with the learning environment our staff has created. Parents, students, teachers and administrators, even the community at large, are all stakeholders in the success of Brookwood High School. Your support means a lot to us. We look forward to connecting with you on the 9th. Warmly, Debbie Dees P.S. PTSA memberships are up 160% over last year. Your financial support of the school and the PTSA helps us with the extras that keep Brookwood great. Please visit www.mypaymentsplus.com to make your contribution. |
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We Care
Junior Taylor Patterson Creates Club to Reach Out to Retirement Community
 | | Junior Taylor Patterson |
Student Taylor Patterson is a longtime volunteer at the Laurel Grove Retirement Community on Five Forks-Trickum Road. Her interactions with the residents there inspired her to create Brookwood's newest student-initiated club, Instagrand. Brookwood Instagrand got its name from the popular smart phone app, Instagram, where users instantly post pictures. In the Instagrand Club, members will instantly adopt a grandparent from the Laurel Grove community.
Taylor has volunteered at Laurel Grove during the summer for several years. She enjoys the company of elders, saying "I love old people. You never know what they are going to say." She was upset by how few visitors came to Laurel Grove and she wanted to help.
Last spring, Taylor pitched the idea of creating a Brookwood club for service-minded teenagers to Laurel Grove's Enrichment Coordinator Erin Sutton-Doll. Then, Taylor wrote club bylaws and had her proposed group approved by Brookwood Activities Director Mark Kimbro and Principal Debbie Dees. Taylor then designed a club logo and created t-shirts for the group. She has club accounts on Facebook, Twitter and has created a club website. (http://www.brookwoodinstagrand.com/index.html)
Taylor has planned activities for club members with Laurel Grove residents, plus a few social outings for club members to get to know one another. One event, planned for October is a "Tech Week", where Laurel Grove residents will bring their tech devices and the teens will help them learn to use them. Another event at the community might be a Wii Day, where the teens will play games with their elders on the community's gaming system. Other idea in the works is to bring a group of residents to a Brookwood sporting or fine arts event.
According to Taylor, club members will be constantly learning about the past from their new companions. She says, "How often do you get to work with someone that's fought in World War II, Vietnam, walked in the Million Man March, or participated in a great American history feat? Brookwood Instagrand is geared towards hearing history and old ways directly from the sources not from a text or website."
Taylor hopes to get a good turnout at the first club meeting today after school in F102. As she says, "Everyone who joins is a founding member." If your student is interested in getting involved in Instagrand, he or she can email Taylor at brookwoodinstagrand@gmail.com |
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We Win
Senior Marina O'Connell Wins National Esthetics Competition
 | | Marina applies fantasy make-up to her model Crystal Morales. |
Marina O'Connell, a Brookwood senior who studied cosmetology at Maxwell High School of Technology last year, has won the National SkillsUSA competition in the area of esthetics. SkillsUSA is a non-profit that serves high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. The competition evaluated each contestant's techniques and professionalism
in four areas including an oral consultation, written exam and a hands-on facial demonstration, plus daytime and fantasy make up application. While finishing her senior year, Marina is working in a salon, where she plans to complete a work study program in her skill area.
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