LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY ANNOUNCES SENIOR HONORS

Lake Oconee Academy held its Senior Awards Night on May 09, 2024 where numerous awards and scholarships were announced including the 2024 Senior Class Valedictorian, Sydney Pattison and Salutatorian, Ridhdhi Sukha. There were several scholarships awarded throughout the evening:

Ella Blythe - Bank South Foundation Scholarship/Citizenship Award, $5,000

Brelyn Evans - Loretta Farley Jensen Award for Determination, $2,000

Keerti Ahluwalia - Mary Lou Noonan Award for Service, $2,000

Emma Cooper and Yariel Delgado - Citizens Involvement Committee Scholarship, $1,000 each

Genna Lawson, Ann Sewell Mesquita, and Jesus Gonzalez Ramirez - Neal Family Scholarship, $1,000 each

Keerti Ahluwalia - Rotary Club Student of the Year, $1,000

Rotary Club Students of the Month:

September - Keerti Ahluwalia

October - Anika Imhof

November - Ella Blythe

December - Ridhdhi Sukha

January - Jane Monachello

February - Sydney Pattison

March - Brelyn Evans

April - Logan Underwood

May (SOY) - Keerti Ahluwalia

Noah Human - Reach Scholarship, $10,000

Keerti Ahluwalia, Ella Blythe, Anika Imhoff, Jane Monachello, and Sydney Pattison - The Greg Lawton ATLAS Scholarship, $16,000 each ($4,000 each year)

Ella Blythe, Sydney Pattison, and Ridhdhi Sukha - Elks Lodge Most Valuable Student Scholarship, $1,000 each

Sydney Pattison - Lake Oconee Food and Wine Festival Scholarship, $1,000

Breyln Evans - Lake Oconee Youth Alliance Scholarship, $2,000

Anika Imhoff - Pilot Club Scholarship, $500

Emma Coleman - Raylee Electric, $1,000

Breyln Evans and Sydney Pattison - Greene County Retired Educators Scholarship, $1,000 each

Sydney Pattison - Exchange Bank Scholarship, $1,500

Emma Coleman - Joe Allen Memorial Scholarship of Southeastern Wood Producers Association, $500

Sydney Pattison - Greene County Farm Bureau President’s Memorial Scholarship, $1,500

Linda Moore and Rylee Oyler - Farmers and Merchants Junior Board of Directors Scholarship

Serenity Jackson - Piedmont Pride Academic Scholarship, $13,000 per year for 4 years

The following students were recognized for honors for the second semester 2024:

Christian Ansley

Presley Bragg

Makenzie Burnette

Emma Cooper

Jesus Gonzalez Ramirez

Ja’Quon Hall

Emily Harrison

Genna Lawson

Rylee Oyler

Jakeria Porter

Helen Schleiden

Anna Sewell Mesquita

Jacy Singleton

Belina Soto

Ella Strickland

Trey Thurmond

Naomi Tovar

Logan Underwood

Sienna Wojciechowicz

Trace Wood

Caleb Worth

The following students were recognized for high honors for the second semester 2024:

Keerti Ahluwalia

Jason Beall

Ella Blythe

Georgia Bosart

Madison Cummings

Julia Dixon

Hannah Doe

Brelyn Evans

Graham Grill

Anika Imhof

Jane Monachello

Fernando Patino

Sydney Pattison

Leo Perez-Tinajero

Jake Prendergast

Zach Stephens

Ridhdhi Sukha

Andrew Williams

A Graduation Ceremony was held Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 10:00AM in the Titan Center at Lake Oconee Academy. Lake Oconee Academy faculty, staff, and board of governors would like to extend heartfelt congratulations and well wishes to the entire class if 2024.

A Note From Nurse Jessica - May Wellness Update

I can't believe we are at the end of the school year!! This has been another magnificent year at LOA!!  I hope the remaining days are wonderful for each of you!!!

With summer break quickly approaching I thought I would share some information with you from CHOA regarding the importance of keeping a schedule during school breaks. One key takeaway from this information was to do our best in maintaining sleep and wake times during breaks.  I am definitely guilty of going to bed late and sleeping in on breaks!! But- after further reading into it, kids, and I am sure adults alike, benefit from remaining on some sort of schedule throughout summer break.  I have attached some helpful information sheets from CHOA below.  

Another tip for the summer from CHOA is the benefit of keeping our kids active. You will see below why movement is so important for kids. 

"Daily movement is vital to kids’ overall wellness. Being active can improve kids’ physical health, social and emotional wellness, and academic performance. 

Physical activity has tons of benefits that go beyond improving kids’ physical fitness.

Instant  benefits of being physically active:

• Improved mood

• Better quality sleep

• Reduced stress

• Higher self-esteem

While it’s important to make movement a habit, kids can experience these benefits immediately after a single session of moderate physical activity. That’s the magic of movement!

A lot of people think movement must be strenuous to be effective. And there’s some truth to that. Kids 6 and older need 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity  every day.

But here are some things to keep in mind for kids:

• Activity doesn’t need to be exhausting. 

• Activity doesn’t need to happen all at once.

• Activity doesn’t need to be structured and organized.

Above all, when it comes to kids, movement should be fun.

Healthy Kids = Better Learners!!!  

Kind Regards, 

Jessica Tolbert, RN

Read More About Building Resilience Over Summer Break:

2024 Uniform Consignment Sale

The LOA Uniform Consignment Sale is an opportunity for LOA families to purchase and sell gently used uniforms at a discounted rate, with a portion of the sales used as a fundraiser for  the school. The sale is a success when there are a large number of donations so your  participation is greatly appreciated. The sale is managed by high school students in the  Entrepreneurship Class with assistance from the Parent Teacher Committee.  

Collection Dates: May 6-31 (Monday-Friday) 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ● Please drop off all tagged items at the main office (Building 100), high school office (Building 800), or the middle school office (Building 500).  

Sale Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024 (Titan Center, Building 900) 

 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.   

Sellers: 

• Each seller will need a participation number that can be obtained by contacting The  Armory at store@lakeoconeeacademy.org. 

• Sellers will receive 80% of the selling price and 20% of revenue will go to the school.  

• Sellers must pre-wash and tag each item to be sold. Any items deemed too damaged or  stained to sell will be put in the discount section and/or returned to the seller. All items  may be folded and bagged for drop-off. 

• Please see attached pricing guide - use the consignment pricing column to price your  items.  If your price does not match the pricing guide, it will be sold at the price on the pricing guide. 

• Please fill out and use the attached tags (one tag per garment). LOA students will be  tagging the large amount of lost and found items so all items contributed to the sale by  parents are REQUIRED to have tags.  All items without tags will be assumed as donations. 

• Tag must be legible and attached to the upper right corner of the item with a safety pin. 

• Items will be grouped by size and gender. 

• If you are unsure of the price of an item, please use the guide to make your best  estimate. 

• Please contribute approved LANDS’ END and/or DRESS CODE COMPLIANT BOTTOMS  and TITAN ARMORY items only. Other items  will not be included in the sale.

LOA Holds Career Day Across Campus

On April 12, Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) hosted its annual Career Day, a vibrant event that catered to students from K4 to 12th grade. The event featured a rich diversity of over 40 speakers, spanning a wide spectrum of professions from culinary arts to medical sciences, providing students with comprehensive exposure to various career paths.

LOA believes in creating opportunities for its students to explore all possible career paths. “Our goal is to expose students to various careers and connect what they are learning in school to the world of work to jumpstart their thinking about the future,” said Dr. Bowling.

L to R: William Gay (Smokey the Bear) and his son, Everett Gay.

Students from K4 classes enjoyed meeting First Responders, including Smokey Bear from the US Forest Service, police officers, EMT workers, firefighters, and more. At the same time, the upperclassmen enjoyed hearing from professionals in nursing, pediatric cardiology, research scientists, lawyers, and photographers, to name just a few. The students had a wide array of information leaving from career day, which gave them many opportunities to consider as they contemplated their future. Smokey Bear has a special connection to LOA. He happens to be married to Mrs. Morgan Gay, an ELA teacher. He’s also the father of a proud first grader, Everett Gay, who was beaming with pride as he showed off his special dad, Smokey.

Pictured presenting to students: James Parks, MD., MS. Pediatric Cardiologist, Cardiac Intensivist and Cardiac Radiologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Mrs. Virginia Hardwick, a long-term sub for Mrs. McDaniel, shared how impressed she was with author Jess Teal, who spoke to her students about being authors. Ms. Teal asked the students if they had ever made a book. Of the students who raised their hands, a few from each group, Ms. Teal, shook their hands and called each an author. She continued by sharing a book she wrote when she was their age.

“What I liked best about career day was figuring out new things and engaging with everybody,” said one middle school student. “My favorite presentation was photography because it was very unique. I also liked the pediatric cardiologist—it was super cool, but I learned it was not for me,” said another student.

Each year, students and teachers alike look forward to this day, watching the students’ interest being sparked as they learn about all the possibilities for their future.

“We appreciate all the parents, community members, and alumni who donated their time to participate in this year’s career day. Witnessing students apply learning to real life through our speakers’ stories was engaging. Hearing from former students was particularly impactful, and we are so proud of our graduates pursuing their college and career goals,” says Mrs. Erica Seybert, lower school counselor.

LOA Senior, Ella Blythe, Commits to the University of Georgia Cheerleading Team

Looking back on her early years, Ella Blythe, a senior at Lake Oconee Academy, recalls the excitement of watching the University of Georgia (UGA) cheerleaders at football and basketball games and even gymnastics meets. Blythe has long harbored the ambition to become part of their esteemed group. To be chosen from a pool of over 100 accomplished cheerleaders who auditioned this year for the UGA cheer team is the realization of her lifelong dream, a testament to her unwavering dedication as an athlete.

Blythe’s immersion in UGA football began at the tender age of just three months. Born into a diehard Bulldog family, one could say it was in her blood. “There is a framed picture in the Blythe household that reads, ‘Georgia born, Georgia bread, and when I die, I’ll be Georgia dead.’ This statement sums it best for our family.” says Blythe’s mother, Jennifer Blythe, who is also a teacher at Lake Oconee Academy. Blythe’s parents met as students at the University of Georgia. “A bigger plan put two people in Athens at the time that both loved UGA.  We have spent our lives showing our daughters why we loved our school by attending games and events as a family since the girls were born.  Some of our fondest memories as a family include traveling across the country to the Rose Bowl in 2018 to watch UGA, visiting various SEC schools to watch our Bulldogs, and meeting great people through our UGA adventures.  To see Ella not only get into the University of Georgia but also be chosen out of over 100 candidates for a select spot on the cheer team is unreal.  As a parent, I am so excited to watch her have the time of her life and cheer on the best school in the land,” beamed Jennifer.

According to her mother, Blythe’s journey in competitive gymnastics started at age 3, when her natural talent quickly emerged. At age 9, she transitioned to Allstar Cheerleading on a level 2 team and instantly fell in love with the sport. By age 12, her family relocated her and her sister to The Stingrays Allstars in Marietta, Georgia, one of the world's premier Allstar gyms.

At age 13, Blythe juggled commitments, competing on Stingray's level 3 and 4 teams while also representing LOA's middle school team. Her dedication led her to join the renowned level 4 Stingray's Platinum team by 9th grade, where she and her team were Grand Champions at The Summit, the highest competition level. Progressing further, she joined Stingray's Cobalt World's Level 6 team while continuing with LOA's competition team.

As a sophomore, Blythe balanced cheering for LOA's competition and football sideline teams while earning a spot on the prestigious all-girl Stingrays Orange team. Her accomplishments on Orange include winning the Worlds Championship. For the past three seasons, Blythe has remained with Stingrays Orange, currently competing for one last shot at the coveted Worlds Championship.

“For over 8 years, cheer has been her love. She has sacrificed her time, body, energy, and dedication to the sport,” says Jennifer. As for Ella, she says, “It is truly a surreal moment to see 17 years of wishing and dreaming come true.  I am still pinching myself that I will be on the sidelines cheering for the best college in the country.”

Lake Oconee Academy celebrated with Blythe in this exciting new chapter by hosting a signing ceremony on April 19th.

Three LOA Students Have Received Honorable Mentions for the Laws of Life Essay Contest

Left to Right, Sydney Pattison (12th), Jessica White (9th), and Riley Carr (10th)

We are thrilled to announce that three LOA students have received Honorable Mentions for the Laws of Life Essay Contest. Congratulations to the following students: Jessica White (9th grade), Riley Carr (10th grade), and Sydney Pattison (12th grade). 

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Greene & Putnam County for their sponsorship of the program at our school. For the 2023-2024 contest, a total of 33,686 students wrote essays, and 60 Rotary clubs participated in Georgia.

Rotary clubs across Georgia conduct the Laws of Life Essay Contest through the nonprofit Georgia Rotary Districts Character Education Program, Inc.  Rotary Club members volunteer to read and judge essays, serve on the contest’s Board of Directors, and volunteer their professional expertise to help build character and ethical literacy among students. “The essay contest is an opportunity for Rotary clubs to share their Service Above Self motto with local students and schools,” said Carol Gray Walker, Executive Director for Georgia Laws of Life.

The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest is made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Additional support comes from Rotary Clubs, corporations, and individual donors throughout Georgia.

Assistance Opportunities Offered by Action, Inc.

Action Incorporated is a local, non-profit organization that assists with summer camp opportunities, employment assistance, and more. Please view the flyers attached and use the contact information at the bottom of the flyers if you have any additional questions.

A Note From Nurse Jessica - April Wellness Update

LOA Families and Staff~

I can't believe we have less than 6 weeks left in our school year!!  With warmer weather heading our way it's the perfect time of year to get outdoors. 

Getting outdoors may include hiking, walking, playing sports, and/or riding a bike.  Below you will find some helpful tips for Bike Safety from Safe Kids Georgia. 

Bike Safety: "Use your head, wear a helmet"

There are so many great reasons to ride your bike: It offers fun, freedom and exercise, and it’s good for the environment. We want kids and families to ride their bikes as much as possible.

Properly-fitted helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by at least 45 percent – yet less than half of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet.

Top Tips

1. Wear a properly-fitted helmet. It is the best way to prevent head injuries and death.

2. Ride on the sidewalk when you can. If not, ride in the same direction as traffic as far on the right-hand side as possible.  

3. Use hand signals and follow the rules of the road. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between cars.    

4. Wear bright colors and use lights, especially when riding at night and in the morning. Reflectors on your clothes and bike will help you be seen.

5. Ride with your children. Stick together until you are comfortable that your kids are ready to ride on their own. 

Bike Helmet Fit Check: 

I hope that everyone stays well for the remainder of the year!!

We are planning a sports physical clinic. Be on the lookout for more information in an email to come.  Sports physicals are good for a year, so this will be a great time to grab an updated form for next school year. 

HEALTHY KIDS = BETTER LEARNERS

Kind regards, 

Jessica Tolbert, RN