Fees rise, budget hit hard

In light of rising insurance premiums and increasing stress on budgets, Dawson County school officials met recently with leaders from other districts to discuss the possibility of pulling out of government health care. Other north Georgia school systems including Gwinnett, which took part in the meeting at Dawson County Middle School, are reportedly researching the matter.

DCSO awards junior

Devin Nichols admits he is still a bit nervous behind the wheel of his Mustang. "I always wear my seatbelt," said the Dawson County High School junior.

Students win first place at business competition

Dawson County High School's Future Business Leaders of America chapter was awarded first place for Region 9 last month. While at the FBLA regional competition Jan. 20 students competed in 41 different events including public speaking, marketing, finance and technology.

Grant aims to improve driving safety for teens

A local agency was recently awarded a $62,500 grant to improve young driver safety. Based in Cleveland, the Pioneer Regional Educational Service Agency reports the Students Against Destructive Decisions grant has been awarded to Dawson County as well as Gainesville City Schools and 11 other north Georgia counties. The effort is to "involve Georgia students in reducing injury and death to young drivers."

Waiver helps ease standards

Dawson County school officials applauded the recent federal waiver that frees Georgia from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind act and grants it flexibility in how to prepare and evaluate students. "I'm extremely happy amendments are being made to the original law," said Dawson County School Superintendent Keith Porter.

Grant aids school program

Dawson County and Riverview middle schools are starting after-school tutoring programs for qualified students this week. Through funds provided by The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Grant, Dawson County Schools have been able to offer specialized services to children classified as "homeless," which is defined as any student without a stable residence.

Lanier Tech leadership award showcases adult students

Students win theater awards

The Dawson County Arts Council earned national recognition during the 2012 Junior Theater Festival, a celebration of on-stage and backstage excellence last month in Atlanta. "[The Junior Theater Festival] is the only festival of its kind," said Dawson County Junior Theater Director Nathan Gerrells. "It is a weekend of celebrating the achievements of kids who have chosen to participate in theater."

Riverview honors vets through documentary

Seventh-grade students at Riverview Middle School have begun a semester-long project to interview veterans about their experiences during the Vietnam War. Inspired by the 61 names listed on the Dawsonville Wall of Honor at Veterans Memorial Park, Maria Faircloth's gifted language arts class is calling the documentary "More than a Name on the Wall."

Speller goes to district

From Carol Helton's perspective, a positive new trend emerged in this year's Dawson County school system spelling bee. "The thing I noticed that the contestants did differently was the number of times the contestant asked for a definition or a sentence," said Helton, one of the three judges in the bee Friday at Dawson County Middle School.

Systemwide spelling bee is set for Friday

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100 and counting

Riverview Elementary kindergarten and first-grade students celebrated the 100th day of the school year by dressing up as if they were 100 years old. Kindergarten and first-grade classes lined-up in the main hallway at 9 a.m. Monday and paraded outdoors as students in the higher grades gathered in the hallway to watch.

Local schools help set new world record

During the early morning hours of Oct. 12, 2011, the ground shook under the feet of more than 2,000 elementary and middle school students. The students were participating in a global effort to set a Guinness World Record for the most people doing jumping jacks for a full minute within a 24-hour period. According to the recently released Guinness totals, 300,265 jumpers participated worldwide in the Let's Jump! event.

Lecture series returns

A popular educational series is returning this month. Great Decisions, an annual public educational program, will be presented by North Georgia College & State University for eight weeks beginning Jan. 26 at the Forsyth County Public Library System.

Board of Regents OKs college merger

ATLANTA - It was standing room only at last week's Board of Regents meeting as students, faculty and administrators from eight University System of Georgia institutions waited with bated breath to find out the fate of their universities. Less than an hour into the Jan. 10 meeting, the proposed college mergers became official.

Tentative ’14 budget approved

The Dawson County Board of Education on Monday approved a tentative $32.3 million budget for fiscal year 2014, which represents a drop of about $3 million from 2013.

Junior police academy accepting applications

Spaces are quickly filling for Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle's annual junior law enforcement academy.

Fifth-graders graduate as C.H.A.M.P.S.

Fifth graders from across the county graduated as C.H.A.M.P.S. during a ceremony and celebration May 6 at Dawson County Middle School.

Dance raises money for childrens books

The weather may have been chilly on April 27, but the dancing and barbeque helped keep everyone warm.

Local high school seniors honored

It was a night of checks, medals and chords for Dawson County High School seniors as students attended an event in their honor.

Stars head of class

Two Dawson County stars - one on the basketball court and the other on standardized testing - finished a close race for head of the class after three years of competing.

Media center dedicated to late historian

Members of the local education and historic communities gathered last week as Robinson Elementary dedicated its media center to the memory and life's work of a late friend.

Honor given to teacher

Dawson County High School chemistry teacher Laura Hendrix was recently named 2012-2013 Chemistry Teacher of the Year by the Northeast Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society.

School board one step closer to new home

A deal to relocate the Dawson County Board of Education's central office to downtown Dawsonville could close next month. During its meeting Monday night, the school board voted 3-0 to approve a contract with Community & Southern bank for the two vacant buildings at 28 Main St.

Monthly luncheon recognizes educators

Each year, staff from Dawson County public schools nominate a teacher they feel exemplifies that special "teaching spirit." At the monthly Dawson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on April 11 at the Lakeview Center, seven local teachers were presented to attendees and their peers.

Focus is the kids

The track at Riverview Middle School was awash in a sea of bright blue shirts Thursday as the 2013 Dawson County Special Olympics got under way. "We are part of a group called Connectability that's a partnership between Lumpkin and Dawson counties," said Tricia Owenby, a special education teacher at Riverview and the school's Special Olympics coordinator.

Elementary schools begin kindergarten registration

Friday is kindergarten registration for Dawson County schools. Kindergarten registration will be held from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., April 12 at the Rock Creek Park Gym. Registration will be for Black's Mill, Kilough, Riverview and Robinson elementary schools.

‘Gold star’ squad

The Dawson County High School JROTC has a new badge to proudly display on cadets' uniforms. The program was named an "honor unit with distinction," the highest award given, during a March 28 regional formal inspection.

JROTC cadets attend ball

The Lakeview Center was a sea of army green as Dawson County High School JROTC cadets gathered in formal dress for the third annual JROTC Military Ball. The March 23 event saw a turnout of more than 150 people, including cadets, students, parents and faculty.

Special Olympic Games comes to Dawson County

Athletes from both Dawson and Lumpkin counties will gather next week at Riverview Middle School to compete in this year's Special Olympics. The games will be held for the first time at the school from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. April 10 at the middle school.