February 2014
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We Shine
STAR Student & Teacher Named
 | | Senior Vamsi Reddy |
Each year, a STAR Student is named, based on receiving the highest SAT score in the school. Brookwood's STAR student for 2013-14 is Vamsi Reddy. He has named his STAR Teacher as French teacher Christophe Powers. These two will be recognized with others from around Gwinnett County at a luncheon later this semester.
Valdez Named CTE Student of the Year
Senior Alex Valdez has been selected as Brookwood's Career Technical Education Student of the Year. Alex was selected because of his active involvement in Robotics and CTE classes. Alex also spends time volunteering and sharing his love of computer science and robotics with elementary students during summer clubs. Alex will represent Brookwood as he competes for Gwinnett CTE Student of the Year in March.
Dana Kling Named "Top Ten Educator of the Year"
Language Arts Teacher Dana Kling is one of ten teachers to be recognized as a 2013 Claes Nobel Educator of the Year by The National Society of High School Scholars. This honor is presented to the best of the best - ten educators committed to bettering students for success in and out of the classroom. Mr. Kling received the award from Governor Deal in December at The Carter Center. It is not surprising that one of Mr. Kling's students nominated him for the award.
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We Commend
Congratulations to Our 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: Jacob Hill, Phillip Brown, Jahlil Mathieux, Nandan Gouri, My Nguyen, Abby Durinat, Emmanuel Nsemoh, Andrew Berenyi, Emily Brochu, Kira Kulp, Juliana Humphreys, Alex Ruddick, Kevin Ortiz, Renee Silver, Abby Dudman, Gabe Gordon-Phillip, Claire Gilmore, Kojo Amoo, Brenda Arechiga, Caleb Jackson, Olivia Chong, Alex Yang, Quentin Fernander, Jordan Shipman, Deion Johnson, Bryan (Jeremy) Reyes and Brenda Arechiga.
Broncos Prepare for National Football Signing Day
Five seniors are getting ready for National Signing Day for football on February 5th. The following players will sign: Hobson McCain is signing with Lehigh, Joe Kelly is signing with Presbyterian, Josh Brown is signing with the US Naval Academy, Mike Allen is signing with St. Augustine University & Daquan Joy is signing with the US Military Academy/West Point.
Lauren Brennan Signs with UGA
Girls cross country and track athlete Lauren Brennan has committed to run at the University of Georgia next year. Lauren was this year's individual region champion, 3rd place individual at the state cross country meet, a member of the Gwinnett Daily Post and Gwinnett Coaches Association All-County teams, and a member of the Atlanta Track Club's All-Metro team.
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We Care
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Sheridan Schuster and Jessica Capo, along with other members of Key Club and AP Environmental Science, recycle Christmas trees.
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New Club Raises Funds for Cleft Lip-Palate Surgeries
Operation Smile is Brookwood's newest student-initiated club. Junior Shirali Desai is the founder of the group that hopes to raise money and partner with Georgia State University's Operation Smile team. Operation Smile is an international organization that "heals children's smiles" focusing on children born with cleft lip and cleft palates. Students interested in joining the new group may see Ms. Washburn in C10 for more information.
Weight-Lifting Classes Donate Food to the Needy
Just prior to the winter break, Coach Jones and Coach Pearson's weight training classes brought in 750 cans of food for the needy. The canned goods were donated to the Quinn House in Lawrenceville.
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We Perform
Musicians Selected for Elite Ensembles
Congratulations to the following band members for being selected for the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony: Julie Tritt (Flute), Jessica Yeagle (Oboe), Jeremy Cover (Trombone), Mikaela Pavin (Tuba) and Luke Rosetti (Trumpet). The following students were selected for the All State Band: Kenny Bader (oboe), Kevin Choi (clarinet), Jeremy Cover (trombone), Cameron Gwynn (trumpet), Drew Hooper (percussion), Mikaela Pavin (tuba) and Luke Rosetti (trumpet).
The following students were selected for the All-State Jazz Band. Cody Lavallee (Jazz Bass), Griffin Dangler (Jazz Bass Alternate) and Steven Ren (Tenor Sax Alternate).
Congratulations to the following students who made All-State Orchestra: Emma DeJarnette (viola), Tony Zheng (viola) and Ian Chen (cello). The following students made the Statewide Honor Orchestra: Cody Lavallee (bass), Jackie Lenz (bass), Micah Jo (violin), Ian Chen (violin) and Wayne Kung (violin).
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A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL FORD | |
I'm enjoying getting to know those who contribute so much to our school, like Bill Westbrook from the Kroger on Five Forks. We are lucky to be surrounded by a business community that supports our school and individuals who generously volunteer their time and talents for our students.
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Greetings!
It is a dream come true to serve as Brookwood's fifth principal. For those who don't know me, I joined Gwinnett County Public Schools in 2004 as a teacher and coach at Duluth High School. Previously, I taught in Cobb County and in my home state of Tennessee. But, Brookwood became my home in 2007, when I came on board as Assistant Principal. My wife, Rachel, is a teacher at Brookwood Elementary and both of my children attend Brookwood cluster schools.
My predecessors established Brookwood as a school where top teachers want to work, where students have a great high school experience and where community support is unmatched. I will continue where they left off. In my first months on the job, I've spent time meeting with staff and community members, listening as they shared their vision for Brookwood's future. I'm inspired by your passion for the school and its students.
There is considerable work ahead this semester, but also some fun events to anticipate. Much of what we do this spring will prepare us for the fall. Shortly, we will start to look at next year's course offerings and staffing needs. We will begin building projects for our facility and technology updates for students and teachers. Spring semester also means a busy arts and sports schedule, the prom and graduation for our seniors. I hope to get a chance to meet you at a school event soon.
Because of your support, Brookwood has maintained a record of success for over three decades. I'm proud of what our students have accomplished and I can't wait to see what they will do next!
Go Broncos!
William Bo Ford, Jr.
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We Create
Literary Magazine Wins "Best Cover" Award
Brookwood's Literary Magazine, Pegasus, was recently recognized with a "Best Cover" award for last year's magazine. The award was one of only four cover awards given by the American Scholastic Press Association. The cover art is a photograph taken by 2013 senior Rebekah Champion. The man in the photo is "Nelson", a self-trained ornithologist Rebekah met while studying birds with her father in Appalachia. Pegasus staff thought that Nelson's "uninhibited spirit, conveyed in his wild eyes and zany grin" was the perfect representation of what was expressed inside the magazine through art and writing.
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We Compete
Special Olympics Athletes Bring Home Medals
In January, twenty-four Brookwood students attended the State Special Olympics Games in Cobb County to compete in bowling and basketball. Broncos brought home thirteen Bronze medals (three team bowlers and ten on competition basketball team), nine fourth place finishes for our skills basketball team, and our individual ramp bowlers earned a gold and a silver medal.
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We Perform
Congrats to Talent Show Winners
 | | Rachel Wagner took first place in the Talent Show. |
1st place -- Rachel Wagner singing "At Last"
2nd place -- Allison Davis, Annie Thomas, Hannah Shaffer, Sydney Tucker and Chase Fretwell singing "Royals"
3rd place -- Bakari Culbreath singing "All of Me"
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We Reach
Swim/Dive Has Excellent Finishes at the County Meet
Congrats to the Swim/Dive Team for excellent finishes in the county meet. As a team, the girls team finished 3rd; the boys finished 5th. Several individuals and relay teams came out on top. Jacob Rees, Alex Taylor, Andrew Huenniger and Austin Harmel won the 200 meter relay. Alex Taylor won the 100 backstroke. Maddy Cohen, Erin Scott, Devan Sweeney and Megan Hansen set a new county meet record in the 200 medley relay. Anna Jahns won the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. Devan Sweeney won the 200 individual medley. Maddy Cohen won the 100 backstroke. Erin Scott won the 100 breaststroke.
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We Compete
Science Olympiad Wins Invitational Tournament, Regional Championship & Qualifies for State
In January, the Science Olympiad Team hosted its fourth annual Brookwood Invitational Tournament. The event featured 48 of the best teams in the state including public, science charter/magnet schools, private schools and last year's state champ from South Carolina, Clinton High School. Despite the tough competition, the Broncos dominated the competition earning medals in 19 out of 21 events. Brookwood's varsity team claimed first place. Brookwood's JV team also had a great day, finishing 7th overall.
Congratulations to the following students on their medal winning performances:
Ryan Chen, Grace Kim, Cody Lewis, Adarsh Suresh, Nick Bonds, Laboni Hoque, Areesh Zindani, Sidd Meka, Kevin Tian, Corey Zheng, PJ Collins, Bowen Ewe, Chase Butler,
Kathryn McKibben, Vamsi Reddy, Sofia Ali, Nikki Puvvada, Susan Zhang, Heath Murphy, Katie Lau, Yusra Asif, Kevin Choi, Tony Zheng, Nam Kim, Joey Calicchio, Matt Stout, David Hoskyn, David Phan, Carleigh Brisendine and Emma DeJarnette.
Over the weekend, Brookwood's four Science Olympiad Teams competed in the Regional Science Olympiad at the University of North Georgia. The teams finished 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th out of a field of 23 teams and qualified for the state tournament. Brookwood students earned 41% of the total medals, earning medals in 22 of 23 events.
Wrestling Places 3rd in Region Tournament
The wrestling team competed in the region tournament this weekend and placed 3rd as a team. Individual placers included:
120 lb. Thanh Nguyen Tournament Champion - ranked 3rd in the state
126 lb. Ethan Cole 5th
132 lb. Zeke Johnston - 3rd ranked 6th in the state
145 lb. Miles Nolan 4th
160 lb. James Pham 2nd
182 lb. Stephen Solamon 2nd - ranked 3rd in the state
195 lb. Tommy Thai 4th
220 lb. Shane Defrietas 4th
285 lb. Jeremy Qaurshie 3rd
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