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Floyd County Schools announced the district winners in the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition today.
The purpose of the Young Georgia Authors (YGA) writing competition is to encourage students to develop enthusiasm for and expertise in their writing, to provide a context to celebrate their writing successes, and to recognize student achievement in arts and academics.
This prestigious competition has been engaging Georgia students for more than two decades and is open to any student currently enrolled in Georgia public schools, grades K-12. The competition is sponsored by the Georgia Language Arts Supervisors (GLAS) and the Georgia RESA Network with support from the Georgia Department of Education.
Students must make it through the school level, district level, and RESA level competitions in order to advance to the state-level competition. The next stage of the competition will be at the RESA level on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Congratulations to the 13 Floyd County Schools district winners:
Kindergarten: “Dollywood” by Kate McGuire (Armuchee Primary School)
1st Grade: “Northpole” by Judah Hopper (Alto Park Elementary School)
2nd Grade: “Just a Normal Story, Right?” by Bowen Pasley (Alto Park Elementary School)
3rd Grade: “A Christmas Story” by Sidney Laseter (Model Elementary School)
4th Grade: “Missing” by Ava Starr (Alto Park Elementary School)
5th Grade: “Until Time Shall Cease” by Corban Abernathy (Model Middle School)
6th Grade: “Just Free” by Luke Casey (Coosa Middle School)
7th Grade: “New Generation” by Brianna Maples (Pepperell Middle School)
8th Grade: “One More Goodbye” by Ivy Hardy (Model High School)
9th Grade: “The Strength I Didn’t Know I Had” by Emma Lunsford (Coosa High School)
10th Grade: “Shadows” by Elinor Thomas (Coosa High School)
11th Grade: “Dreamless Sleep” by Mari Wilson (Coosa High School)
12th Grade: “Apartment 312” by Shari Torres (Armuchee High School)
About Floyd County Schools
The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.
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Floyd County Schools and Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Turrentine as the new board member serving the Armuchee community.
In an unanimous 4-0 vote, the board selected Mr. Turrentine for his extensive experience and dedication to education and community service.
Steve Turrentine brings a wealth of experience to the board, having served in various educational and community roles over the past three decades. His career highlights include:
- Principal at Armuchee Middle School and Model Middle School: Mr. Turrentine led these schools with a focus on academic excellence, student engagement, and community involvement. He was instrumental in developing and tracking benchmarks for institutional success and fostering an inclusive environment where students could thrive.
- Assistant Principal at Model Middle School: In this role, he supported the overall administration of the school, supervised student enrollment and attendance, and developed emergency plans in cooperation with staff and public safety agencies.
- Teacher and Coach: Mr. Turrentine began his career teaching Georgia History, Health, and Physical Education. He also coached various sports, including softball, basketball, and baseball, demonstrating his commitment to student development both inside and outside the classroom.
- Sports Coordinator at Rome-Floyd Parks & Recreation: He managed citywide athletic programs, trained and supervised personnel, and ensured compliance with city specifications.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Turrentine has deep personal ties to Floyd County Schools and the Armuchee area. In addition to his time serving at Armuchee Middle School, two of his children attended Floyd County Schools, his wife served as an educator and administrator throughout the district, his daughter-in-law is currently a teacher in the system, and his grandchildren will attend Armuchee Primary School.
Mr. Turrentine holds an Ed.S. and M.Ed. from Lincoln Memorial University and a B.S. from Shorter College. His dedication to education and community service is further evidenced by his role as a driver at The Spires at Berry College, where he provides safe and courteous transportation for residents.
"We are thrilled to welcome Steve Turrentine to the board," said Danny Waits, Board Chair of Floyd County Schools. "His extensive experience in education and his deep commitment to our community make him an excellent choice to serve the Armuchee community."
About Floyd County Schools
The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.
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Floyd County Schools is proud to announce that Garden Lakes Elementary School has emerged as the champion of the 2nd annual FCS Reading Bowl competition, held at Shorter University.
In a spirited contest that showcased the reading prowess of fourth-grade students, Pepperell Elementary School secured the runner-up position.
The FCS Reading Bowl is an initiative designed to elevate student achievement and reading comprehension among fourth graders across our elementary schools. This year, the event saw enthusiastic participation, with students gaining a deeper appreciation for literature, enhancing their verbal communication skills, promoting cooperation, and building self-esteem and team spirit.
Throughout the school year, our dedicated media specialists and teacher volunteers committed their time to meet with students after school each week. They guided them through a selection of books and practiced comprehension questions, ensuring that participants were well-prepared for the competition.
The event was made even more special thanks to the support of over 20 Shorter University education majors who volunteered their time and energy to assist with the reading bowl competition. Their involvement added a valuable layer of mentorship and encouragement for our young readers.
"We are incredibly proud of all the students who participated in the FCS Reading Bowl," said Celena Arrington, Director of Instructional Technology, Online Learning, and School Libraries. "Their hard work, teamwork, and passion for reading truly shone during the competition. Congratulations to Garden Lakes Elementary for their outstanding achievement and to Pepperell Elementary for their commendable performance."
The FCS Reading Bowl is not only a celebration of reading but also a testament to the collaborative efforts of educators, volunteers, and students to foster a love of literature and learning. We look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come.
Seven students from Floyd County Schools (FCS) have been chosen as state semi-finalists and will move forward in the Governor's Honors Program (GHP) selection process.
Congratulations to the following 7 state semi-finalists for GHP. They will represent FCS in the next level of competition.
Ryder Ashmore, PHS junior, Theatre
Robert Brown, AHS sophomore, Mathematics
Caedmon Burnett, CHS sophomore, Theatre
Elijah Cranford, AHS sophomore, Social Studies
Jesus Garcia, PHS junior, World Languages: Spanish
Emerson Laipple, PHS sophomore, Communicative Arts
Avi Singh, MHS sophomore, Science: Biology/Environmental Science
GHP is a four-week summer instructional program designed to provide intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students with challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available during the regular school year. The seven sophomores and juniors were selected based on their state-level online applications to represent FCS in the in-person GHP interviews to be held at Georgia State University on March 1, 2025.
GHP will take place on the campus of Georgia Southern University this summer. Rising juniors and seniors in Georgia public and private high schools are eligible to be nominated by their teachers to participate in the program. The program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, so there is no charge for students to attend. For four weeks, students spend the morning in their major area of nomination, exploring topics not usually found in the regular high school classroom.
During the afternoons, students choose one of the other areas in which to study. The curriculum in all areas is challenging and engaging. Evenings are filled with seminars, activities, concerts, and performances.
Each applicant must go through a very extensive selection process to be invited to participate in the program. Transcripts of grades and records, nomination forms, endorsements, and other pertinent information are submitted to substantiate the nominations and the students must interview with a local screening committee.
Major instructional areas are agricultural research, biotechnology and science, communicative arts, computer science, dance, engineering, mathematics, music, science, social studies, theatre performance, visual arts, and world languages. Students also select a minor area outside their major area of study. These include all the major instructional areas as well as additional offerings that reflect the interests and abilities of the instructional staff.
Floyd County Schools announced the process to appoint a new board member for the Armuchee area on Monday morning in a called board meeting.
According to the law, the Board must appoint a new member within 45 days of the vacancy. The following procedure will be used to fill this position:
Submission of Interest: All interested applicants must submit a letter of interest and a resume, including their full legal name and address, by Monday, February 10, 2025, at Noon. Information can be submitted to the Board via Kirstin LeClair, at kirstinleclair@floydboe.net.
Residency Verification: Kirstin LeClair will contact the Elections Office to verify the residency and eligibility of the interested applicants. All interested applicants must reside in the Armuchee attendance area for a minimum of one year.
Applicant Contact: Applicants will be contacted if selected for an interview.
Interviews and Selection: The Board will conduct interviews with the selected applicants and will vote after the final interview. The selected applicant will be contacted with information regarding the next steps.
Term of Service: The selected applicant will serve until the completion of the current term (December 31, 2026).
We encourage all eligible community members to consider applying for this important role. Your participation is vital to the continued success and governance of our schools. Thank you for your interest in Floyd County Schools!
About Floyd County Schools
The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.
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