ECHS students attend STEM conference at University of West Georgia

Communities In Schools recently sponsored a STEM conference at the University of West Georgia. East Coweta High School took a total of 50 11th and 12th grade girls and four teachers to the conference.

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. STEM proponents focus on these areas because they are essential for student success and also because these fields are so critical in today’s world.

The conference was a wonderful experience, according to East Coweta Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan, who said she appreciated Communities In Schools of Georgia for sponsoring this event.

Plans now underway for May 2 Hats and Hooves!

May 2, 2015 will be here before you know it, so make plans now to attend our Hats and Hooves Derby Affair, a fundraising event for Communities In Schools of Coweta County!

This year's event will be Saturday, May 2, from 6-10 p.m. at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum in Newnan. Last year's event was a huge success, and we know this year's fundraiser will be even bigger and better!

We'll be announcing all the exciting details very soon, but for now we want to make sure all our friends and supporters make plans to reserve this very important date on the calendar. We'll be celebrating Derby Day and raising funds for a great cause all at the same time. Thank you for helping us spread the word! (2014 event photos courtesy of Prime Time Eventz)

CIS National Report lists reasons kids drop out

The national CIS website offers a number of resources to help educators, parents and other concerned citizens understand why students may drop out of school. According to the CIS Spring 2014 National Impact Report, there are five unexpected reasons kids drop out:

1. They're hungry. A school-provided lunch on Friday may be the only real meal a student has until Monday. When a child is hungry, he or she can't focus on school, extracurricular activities or the future.

2. They can't see the board. Students may give up on their school work rather than admit they can't see what the teacher is writing on the blackboard. Glasses or a trip to the eye doctor may be things their families can't afford.

3. They don't have the right shoes or clothes. Clothes that fit, shoes without holes or a warm winter jacket are luxuries for some students. But these basic needs are critical for their health, well-being and self-esteem.

4. They're homeless. Imagine being homeless—and only 11 years old. Not knowing where you're going to live may make going to school seem unimportant in comparison.

5. They can't get there. If a student can't get to school then he or she can't succeed in school. Walks through dangerous neighborhoods or lack of reliable transportation may keep some kids at home.

To read the full report from the national CIS organization, click here.

Plan now to attend our May 2 Hats and Hooves Derby Affair!

Is your calendar marked for May 2, 2015? That's the day we'll all be watching the Kentucky Derby and raising funds for Communities In Schools of Coweta County!

Our Hats and Hooves Derby Affair, a fundraising event for CIS of Coweta County, will be Saturday, May 2, from 6-10 p.m. at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum in Newnan. Last year's event was a huge success, and we know this year's fundraiser will be even bigger and better. (Hint: It's not too early to start looking for the right hat to wear!)

We'll be announcing all the exciting details soon, but for now we need to let all our friends and supporters know to go ahead and reserve this very important date on the calendar. Thank you for helping us spread the word!

Photo courtesy of Prime Time Eventz

Hats and Hooves coming on May 2!

Save the Date of May 2, 2015!

We're so pleased to unveil the logo for our Hats and Hooves Derby Affair, a fundraising event for Communities In Schools of Coweta County! This year's event will be Saturday, May 2, from 6-10 p.m. at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum in Newnan. Last year's event was a huge success, and we know this year's fundraiser will be even bigger and better!

We'll be announcing all the exciting details very soon, but for now we want to make sure all our friends and supporters make plans to reserve this very important date on the calendar. We'll be celebrating Derby Day and raising funds for a great cause all at the same time. Will you help us spread the word?

CIS of Coweta represented at Georgia Chamber's Eggs & Issues

Gina Weathersby, executive director of Communities In Schools of Coweta County, visits with CIS of Georgia CEO Carol Lewis and CIS of Coweta County Chairman of the Board Dennis McEntire at Eggs and Issues. 

Executive Director Gina Weathersby represented CIS of Coweta County at the 2015 Eggs & Issues breakfast at the Georgia World Congress Center today. Eggs & Issues is the Georgia Chamber’s largest annual signature event and featured Governor Nathan Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston.

The event is held each year for state legislative and business leaders to prioritize the issues they believe Georgia needs to tackle. Some 2,000 attendees were at this year’s event, where the governor stressed the importance of education and training Georgia’s future workers.

"We cannot afford to let our workforce gaps widen into ravines,” Deal said. “A job that remains open because of lack of capable applicants undermines the diligent efforts that it took to bring that job here in the first place."

Free resource: The Parent Engagement Toolkit

Communities In Schools of Georgia has some great free resources available on its website. There are resources for parents as well as resources for educators, and even a 52-page Parent Engagement Toolkit designed to help educators and parents work together to help students achieve success!

Topics covered in this resource include Helping Parents Understand Testing, Helping Reluctant Parents, Inspiring Parents to Read with Their Children, Supporting Parents of Children with Disabilities, and Helping Parents Help Their Children with Homework.

The complete Parent Engagement Toolkit is available as a free PDF download and may be accessed here.

CIS to open New York Stock Exchange today!

Have you heard the news? Communities In Schools programs across the nation will be getting some extra exposure today when CIS rings the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange!

The Opening Bell ceremony is set for today, Jan. 5, at 9:30 a.m. and will feature Lenny Stern, CIS National Board Member; Jim Purcell, State Director, CIS Delaware; Ryan Riley, State Director, CIS Pennsylvania; and CIS Site Coordinators and students.

"As kids come back from the holiday break," said Stern, "we know that many of them will be coming to class unable to focus on learning because they don't have food at home, someone to help them with homework or even a safe place to stay. That places them at greater risk for dropping out. We hope our presence at the NYSE signals that business leaders, policy makers and elected officials need to invest in solutions that give these kids the resources they need to succeed in school and achieve in life." A live webcast of the Opening Bell can be viewed here.