Ann Campbell Vinson Awarded District Spelling Bee Champion

Ann Campbell Vinson, a sixth-grade student at Lake Oconee Academy, clinched the title of District Spelling Bee Winner on January 17, 2024. Expressing her joy, Ann Campbell shared, "I feel really proud that I won and am relieved! I’m so grateful that some of my sweet friends and family came to watch and cheer me on. I’m grateful that I get to keep studying because I know my Mama will help me as much as she can. We have so much fun studying together!"

Lake Oconee Academy held the school-wide spelling bee in November of 2023, where 4th-grade student Archer Logan was the elementary Spelling Bee winner, and Ann Campbell was the middle school Spelling Bee winner. Both students advanced to the District Spelling Bee held at the Greene County Board of Education. Competing against 3 other students from Greene County Schools, Ann Campbell advanced to the regional Spelling Bee on February 24, 2024, at Putnam County Middle School.

“I felt really excited and really nervous at the same time. I came in 6th place last year out of about 40 competitors as a 5th grader, and I hope to place even higher this year and advance to the State Bee,” says Ann Campbell in preparing for the next competition.

Ann Campbell is a High Honors student who sings, acts, and plays club soccer, basketball, football, sideline cheer, and tennis. She loves to read and participates in the TOME Literacy Society (a book club for students). She is a Citizenship Cornerstone Award recipient, one of LOA’s most prestigious awards. Ann Campbell loves spending time with family, friends, and her two dogs.

A lot of preparation goes into participating in the spelling bee for Ann Campbell. She uses multiple practice methods, including transcribing, memorization, language of origin and root word study, and repetition drills to prepare. She studies with her mother and mentor, Hailey Heinen, LOA’s 2023 Valedictorian who also attended the Scripps National Spelling Bee as a high school student. Ann Campbell is an avid reader, noting that her participation in the Club TOME is also great practice. She loves the movie Akeelah and the Bee, an inspirational movie about the spelling bee. Even with her passion for words, Ann Campbell shares that her favorite subject is math. However, her favorite language of origin is Latin, which fits this spelling bee champion.

Ann Campbell’s parents, Ben and Ansley Vinson, shared their pride in their daughter: "We are thrilled for Ann Campbell! The courage and composure of all the kids who participate in spelling bees is something truly special. It is a nerve-racking competition that takes a lot of preparation and grit, and we are so proud of the effort Ann Campbell has put forward in her studies. I am grateful we get to keep studying together, which is a special time for us. We both really love words and learning about them,” says Ansley.

The Regional Spelling Bee will be held February 24, 2024 at Putnam County Middle School. “I’m so grateful that I have my Mama to help me study and that I have such a wonderful school, Lake Oconee Academy, that participates in the Spelling Bee and supports me,” says Ann Campbell.

LOA Student, Sydney Pattison is Named Page Star Student

Sydney Pattison, a senior at Lake Oconee Academy, has been named the 2024 PAGE STAR Student for LOA. In her role as the STAR Student, Sydney has the privilege of selecting a teacher who significantly influenced her high school journey to be honored as her STAR Teacher. Mrs. Caroline St John, Sydney’s AP Seminar, and current AP Literature teacher is her chosen STAR Teacher.

The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is sponsored, administered, and promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the PAGE Foundation. Since its inception, the STAR program has honored nearly 29,000 students and the teachers they have selected as the most influential in their academic achievement. High school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average to qualify for the STAR nomination.

Sydney has been a student at Lake Oconee Academy for thirteen years and has been highly involved in LOA's academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities. She is the Executive Director of LOA Miracle, a fundraising organization for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the LOA Student Body Vice President, and a member of the National Beta Club. Sydney is Co-Captain of the LOA Cheerleading Team and is a member of the LOA Varsity Golf Team. She also works as a hostess at the Creek Club Restaurant at Reynolds Lake Oconee.

Sydney said she chose Mrs. St John because of her relationship with her students, which she said goes far beyond the classroom. “I have had the pleasure of having Mrs. St John as my AP Seminar and current AP Literature teacher and she does a phenomenal job teaching the AP course content; however, she also spends class time teaching us all the important knowledge that we need to know for high school.” Sydney further expressed that Mrs. St John taught her how to apply for college, reviewing her essays before submitting them. “If it weren’t for her SAT and ACT practice tips, I do not know if I would’ve achieved such a high score as I did to receive this recognition.”

“As a veteran teacher in the state of Georgia, I am aware of the magnitude of STAR Student and STAR Teacher. This means the world to me,” says Mrs. St John of being chosen as Sydney’s STAR Teacher. St John currently teaches AP English Literature, AP Seminar, and Creative Writing at LOA. She founded LOA’s student-led literacy magazine, The Archetype, and coordinates the Literacy Society, including LOA’s Poetry Slam. She also takes great joy in coaching students through the college essay-writing process. As a graduate of Asbury University with a degree in English Secondary Education, she also holds a master's degree in fine arts in Narrative Nonfiction writing from the Grady School at the University of Georgia.

Sydney plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to receive a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Modern Language. From there, she hopes to pursue a Law Degree for a future career in U.S. Foreign Policy.  She aspires to study abroad throughout college and is excited to see what the future holds. “I am honored to be recognized as the PAGE Star Student for the LOA Class of 2024. It means a lot to me to be appreciated for my accomplishments, and I am pleased that I can use this platform to show my gratitude to all the LOA staff members and my family who helped me achieve my successes.”

As Sydney looks forward to the next phase of life, Mrs. St John no doubt believes the path before her is bright: "Sydney is a powerhouse of a student. When she gets a goal, she is an unstoppable force. I am eager to see where the future takes her.”

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) is the state’s largest and fastest-growing educator association. Deeply committed to excellence in public education, PAGE provides unparalleled legal coverage, legislative advocacy, and professional learning opportunities to more than 95,000 teachers, administrators, and school personnel. PAGE protects, supports, and empowers members throughout all stages and facets of their career. For more information, visit their website at www.pageinc.org.

ARC Blood Drive Scheduled for January 16 at LOA

The Lake Oconee Academy Beta Club and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive. 

Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today!

Drive Details:

• Site:  Lake Oconee Academy

• Address:  1021 Titan Circle, Greensboro, GA, 30642

• Room Name:  Titan Center

• Date:  Tuesday, January 16th, 2024

• Time:  09:00 AM - 02:00 PM

• Blood Program Leader Name:  Kris Stevens

• Blood Program Leader Phone Number:  770-354-2708
  Click here to make an appointment

Please help us to make an impact by giving blood on January 16th at LOA in the Titan Center. Our drive is scheduled for 9AM - 2PM.  

The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

If you have any questions, please reach out to  kris.stevens@lakeoconeeacademy.org or at 770.354.2708. 

A Note From Nurse Jessica - January Wellness Update

Welcome Back and Happy New Year!!! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Winter break!  Full of rest and relaxation!!  

Since we are still seeing Flu and Covid on the rise locally I wanted to reiterate key components from my last email.  

Reminder from my previous email : 

Key sickness prevention is started with good health habits like avoiding people who are sick, covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like flu. 

The tips and resources below will help you learn about actions you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs.

1. Avoid close contact.
   Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

   1. Stay home when you are sick.
      If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.

   2. Cover your mouth and nose.
      Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.

   3. Clean your hands.
      Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

      • Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
        Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers

   4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
      Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

   5. Practice other good health habits.
      Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Key Policy Reminders: 

• Students must be fever (100.4) free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.

• Students with any vomiting and/or diarrhea must be out for 24 hours post their last vomiting or diarrhea episode 

We continue to ask that you please keep students home when they are unwell. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.  Please be sure to let your student's teacher(s) know if your student is out sick, as well.  

Healthy Students = Better Learners

Kind Regards, 

Jessica Tolbert, RN

Lake Oconee Academy

School Nurse

Phone: 706-454-1562

Atlanta Braves Photographer, Kevin Liles, Visits Lake Oconee Academy

9th grade student, Ben Reber, excited to wear the World Series ring while posing for a photo with Kevin Liles.

It was an exciting day for Lake Oconee Academy’s photography class when the Atlanta Braves team photographer, Kevin Liles, visited to share his knowledge and experience as a photographer with the budding photography students.

Mr. Liles began his career as a small-town reporter in South Georgia. After covering local high school sports, Kevin discovered he had a growing interest in photography, especially when it came to sports. He went on to photograph hundreds of assignments for The New York Times, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2018, he found his home as the team photographer for The Atlanta Braves where he continues his work today.

Mr. Liles shared some of the amazing moments he has captured over the years with the photography students. While most of the photographs he shared were epic ones he has taken for The Braves, he also shared some amazing moments he’s been fortunate to capture outside of The Braves organization over the years - from a regal portrait of former President Jimmy Carter to a rare moment with University of Alabama Head Football Coach, Nick Saban. He even shared an unexpected moment he was fortunate to capture of a pastor praying with a police officer that landed on the front of The New York Times Sunday edition. His was the lead photograph of every photographer across the country covering this story. It was an incredible honor.

In addition, Mr. Liles shared great advice with the young photography students as they prepare for their futures in any area of study. Mr. Liles suggested, “It takes about ten years, in my experience, to be really good at anything…” He later stated, “I think a lot of kids come into photography and try to be great very, very quickly. They want to be shooting a Braves game next week and it doesn’t work that way.” His advice was to just put in the time to gain experience, suggesting that in order to grow in photography one needs good critiquing of his or her work to excel in the field.

Mr. Liles enjoyed bantering back and forth with ninth grade student, Ben Reber. He noticed Ben had a superior knowledge of the Braves stats and playfully tested his knowledge throughout. Ben later shared how much he enjoyed seeing Mr. Liles work from games he had attended or viewed on TV, recalling the moments from memory. Prior to this event, Jordynn Chafin, a tenth-grade student, was unsure if photography was a career path she was interested in, “I wanted to do something in the technology field, but I thought photography was kind of boring. Seeing his work made me realize there is more to it and technology can be fun if you make it,” said Jordyn. She emphasized, “He definitely made me give photography a second thought.” 

Being in the presence of such an accomplished photographer was a special experience for these young photography students. Before departing, Mr. Liles gave the students an opportunity to hold his official Braves World Series ring, an experience many of the students will never forget!

Kevin Liles showing a Sports Illustrated cover he collaborated with another photographer on and explaining how the two made the cover come together.

About Kevin D. Liles:

Kevin D. Liles is a documentary, commercial, and sports photographer based out of Atlanta, GA. He specializes in creating narrative, layered and powerful images. Kevin has photographed for The New York Times, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated and The Wall Street Journal. Other clients include Turner Studios, The Golfer’s Journal, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, ESPN, NBA and The Players’ Tribune. He is the co-founder of ATL Photo Night, a monthly artist talk founded in 2016 aimed at investigating the creative process. He is also past president of the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar - the longest continuously operating photojournalism conference in the U.S. To learn more about Kevin Liles, please visit: kevindliles.com

Lake Oconee Academy's Marcus Rhodes recognized as one of six recipients of the REACH Scholarship in Greene County

In a recent announcement, Lake Oconee Academy proudly shares that eighth-grade student Marcus Rhodes has been chosen as one of the six recipients of the prestigious REACH Scholarship within the Greene County School System.

Established in 2012, REACH Georgia is the state's pioneer needs-based mentorship and college scholarship initiative. To qualify, students must be nominated by a teacher, marking it not only as a financial scholarship but an honor that comes with a comprehensive framework for success. This framework involves commitments from the student, parents, mentors, and academic coaches, collectively supporting the student's educational journey through high school and beyond. Upon meeting program requirements at graduation, REACH Scholars like Marcus can access a minimum of $10,000 for their education at a full-time, HOPE-eligible postsecondary institution in Georgia.

Marcus, a talented piano player and a proud member of the LOA football team, was selected for the scholarship due to his demonstrated leadership skills both in the classroom and on the football field. Varsity Football Head Coach Patrick Stewart was excited, stating, "That is amazing news! Marcus won our most improved award for football this year as he sought to improve every day. Can't wait to see him continue to grow through this program!"

Highlighting Marcus's academic qualities, his English Language Arts teacher added, "Marcus Rhodes is a promising young man with high aspirations. He is an excited learner with natural curiosity, engaged, social, and a leader in the classroom."

As Marcus transitions to high school next year, the REACH scholarship program will undoubtedly play a vital role in laying the foundation for his successful future. With all the shared pride for Marcus’s win, no one is as proud as his mother, DeTonya Rhodes, who summed up this particular moment best: “I am extremely proud of Marcus and the young man he is becoming. I am blessed and honored to have such a humbled child. Bruce Lee once said, ‘Preparation for tomorrow is hard work today.’ I can’t wait to see what his future holds.”

Lake Oconee Academy extends its best wishes to Marcus and the other Reach Scholars of the Class of 2028, anticipating their continued achievements.

A Note From Nurse Jessica - Wellness Update

LOA Staff and Families~

Welcome Back.....Thanksgiving Break flew by!!!

I hope that you and your family enjoyed some rest and fun!!

A few helpful tips from the Mayo Clinic: 

It may seem as though school-age children frequently get sick, especially during certain times each year. 

Your child(ren)'s immune systems are put to the test. Children in large group settings tend to quickly spread organisms that cause illness.

Viruses cause many common childhood illnesses. All it takes is for one child to bring a virus to school for the spread of illness to begin.

The power of hand-washing

What's the best way to keep your children healthy in school? Frequent hand-washing is the simplest, most effective way to stay healthy.

Remind your children to wash their hands when doing these activities:

• Before eating a meal or snack

• After going to the bathroom

• After coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose

• After playing outside.

Children should soap up their hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice through, or at least 20 seconds.

Coughing Etiquette: 

• Coughing into a tissue or napkin

• Coughing into your elbow, never into your hand

Other Helpful tips: 

• Remind children to keep their hands away from their eyes and out of their mouths because hands often are covered in germs.

• Teach children to not share water bottles, food or other personal items. Use this simple rule: If you put the item in your mouth, keep it to yourself.

It's also important for your children to eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep and stay current on their vaccinations to help fend off illness-causing organisms.  Keep your children at home if they have symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat or rashes.

A few policy reminders: 

• Students must stay home if fever is present (100.4), they may return if at least 24 hours have passed since their last fever, without the use of fever reducing medication.

• Students must stay home if vomiting and/or diarrhea. They may return 24 hours after their last episode. 

If you have any questions please refer to the Lake Oconee website under the resource tab > school clinic. I have linked it here for your convenience: school clinic.  All resources are available here.  Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if needed :) 

I am so thankful for LOA and our staff, our students, and families!! I hope you each had a wonderful and healthy Thanksgiving!!

—

Our local health department will now have a kiosk providing COVID and Flu PCR testing kits. 

Please see below regarding the new kiosk from the DPH:

The Northeast Health District is now offering COVID and influenza PCR testing at
kiosks at five locations throughout the district. These kiosks offer access to testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
After completing a brief registration form, the kiosks dispense two test kits – one kit is for COVID testing and the other is for influenza (types A and B). The test kits include a nasal swab and instructions on collecting the specimens. Nasal swabs must be done for each test. Once the specimens are collected, they are safely packaged back into the kits and placed in the kiosk. The specimens are picked up daily and sent to an accredited lab for PCR testing. Individuals will receive notification of their test results by email or text, usually within 48 hours of specimen collection.

Pre-registration for testing at the kiosks is not required but is available at
https://register.testandgo.com/. 

There is no out-of-pocket cost for the tests provided through a DPH kiosk, but for individuals with insurance, their insurance will be billed.

For more information about these kiosks, visit: https://northeasthealthdistrict.org/resources/covid-19-testing/

COVID and influenza testing are among the many prevention measures that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading illness. Vaccination and good respiratory hygiene also help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID and flu:

• Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based gels are the next best thing if you don’t have access to soap and water.

• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm to help prevent spread of germs.

• Avoid touching your face as germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes.

• Stay home from work or school if you’re sick.

For more information about COVID and influenza visit https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19 or https://dph.georgia.gov/flu.

Kind regards,

Jessica Tolbert, RN

Lake Oconee Academy School Nurse

Lake Oconee Academy Band Performs at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida

During the fall break from October 12th to 15th, the 8th through 12th grade band students from Lake Oconee Academy embarked on an exciting journey to Orlando, Florida. Their destination was Universal Studios, where they showcased their musical talents on the grand stage and enjoyed the various attractions.

The meticulous planning for this remarkable opportunity was spearheaded by Courtney Pilgrim, the Band Director for both the Upper and Lower Schools at LOA. Pilgrim initiated the Universal Studios Stars Performance Programs application process in February of the preceding school year, submitting video and sound recordings from past performances.

The Universal Studios Stars Performance Program caters to youth bands, allowing them to perform in front of Universal's diverse audience. This program accommodates a range of performing groups, from marching or concert bands to dance teams, choirs, and more, offering a platform for these talented groups to showcase their skills.

While at Universal, the LOA Band students focused on their performance and indulged in the trip's recreational side. They experienced the excitement of Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and The Main Universal Park. They even ventured to Medieval Times, creating lasting memories that will resonate with the group for a lifetime.

Reflecting on the trip, Ms. Pilgrim admired the students' outstanding performance and the fantastic experience. She looks forward to future opportunities to perform with this exceptional group, and this trip will be a cherished memory for the students who eagerly anticipate the chance to attend such an event again.