USEFUL LINKS

Wheeler robotics a winner, Addison Elementary School's history, aviation museum party, more...

Wheeler High School

On Jan. 16 the CircuitRunners competed in the first Technology Challenge Regional Qualifier in Gwinnett County. Against teams from Georgia, South Carolina and Mississippi the robot excelled in it's autonomous (pre-programmed control) and defensive maneuvering. Overall the team won the first Tech Challenge Motivate Award. This award celebrates the team that exemplifies the essence of the first Tech Challenge competition through team spirit and enthusiasm. As a result, they qualified for the state championship at SPSU on Feb. 27. Come out to cheer them on to victory!

If you would like to learn more about the competition, the team will be hosting and running a regional qualifier at East Cobb Middle School Feb. 6. All events are free and open to the public.

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Addison Elementary School

Our History
Addison Elementary School opened its doors for the first time in August, 1988. The school was named for Cobb County educator and businessman, Walter Pinkney (W. P.) Addison. Addison became Georgia's first Charter School in 1995. Subsequent Charter renewals in 1998 and 2003 have ensured high academic achievement for all Addison students.

W. P. Addison was an educator and a successful businessman. He was a man of vision with a strong commitment to excellence in all that he did. In the mid 1920's, the only schools in Cobb County were a few one-room school houses scattered over the county. Mr. Addison wanted a better educational system for his own children as well as all children throughout the county.

He contacted other prominent businessmen of the county and proposed that a new consolidated school be built. It was to be a school that housed a classroom and a teacher for each grade. Buses would be used to transport children to the school.

The idea was very novel and somewhat radical for that time. Many nay-sayers insisted that parents would never put their children on a bus and allow them to ride several miles to school. In spite of the skeptics, Mr. Addison persisted. He worked with other businessmen of the community to secure funding and he donated the land for the school. The land was just north of his home place on the Canton Highway. The school buses were purchased. For several months, Mr. Addison and Mr. Arch McCleskey, Sr. (namesake for McCleskey Middle School) traveled throughout the state interviewing teachers for the new consolidated school. They wanted the most qualified teachers available to teach the children.

Blackwell's Consolidated School (as it was originally called) was finally built. The school first opened for the summer term on July 18, 1927 in an attractive red brick building. The original building had eight classrooms and an auditorium. Each room had a coal burning stove for heat. There were no indoor restrooms, nor was there a lunchroom

By the late 1940's, two more buildings had been added to the school grounds: a Home Economics building and an Agriculture building which included a cannery. Indoor bathrooms had also been added. There was a girls' bathroom at the end of the right side of the building and a boys' bathroom at the end of the left side of the building. The first lunchroom program was started in 1952 in the Agricultural building.

Mr. Addison suffered a stroke in later years and was left with a significant speech impediment. However, his positive spirit and quest for excellence never diminished. In 1978, Blackwell Elementary celebrated its 50th anniversary and Mr. Addison spoke eloquently at the program.

Bells Ferry Elementary School

Bells Ferry would like to thank the Cobb County Sheriff's Office for twenty years of being our Partner in Education.

Kell High School

Cobb Alcohol Taskforce

Don’t Miss the 2010 Southern Showdown
One of the most exciting match-ups in Division 1 men's lacrosse will be at 1pm on Saturday, Feb. 13, at McEachern High School as top-ranked Duke takes on top-twenty Bucknell in the 2010 Southern Showdown.

Tickets are $12.00 each and Kell Lacrosse receives a portion of the proceeds. Tickets can either be purchased on-line via PayPal (www.kelllacrosse.com) or you can bring a check payable to “Kell Lacrosse” to coach Mac in the Media Center.

* denotes region game

Kell Junior Lacrosse

Registration will open for the 2010 Kell Junior Longhorn Lacrosse (KJLL) spring season Dec.1 and continue through Jan. 24. For more details, please go to www.kelllacrosse.com.

Around Cobb County

Event celebrates local military and aviation wing and museum

Hearts for Heroes, a night to celebrate and honor our local aviation vision and military, will be held Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Historic Strand Theatre. The event will support the Aviation Wing of the Marietta Museum of History and be co-hosted by former Gov. Roy Barnes and Chairman Sam Olens. Special guests include Admiral Jim Ellis, Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt and actors Dennis HaysbertMemory Lane Jazz Band, Vintage Vocals and Katie Kasben. Doors open at 6 p.m. for an aviation art show and the main event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. There will also be an after party immediately following the event at the Gov. and Mrs. Barnes' home. Tickets are $100. and Eric L. Haney. Live music will be provided by

For more information, call 770-293-0080 or visit earlsmithstrand.org.

Photo expo at Callaway Gardens

The Georgia Nature's Photographer's Association is having it's annual photo expo Jan. 29 through Jan. 31, 2010, at the Callaway Gardens Lodge & Spa. The keynote speakers are Rob Sheppard and Nancy Rotenberg. The association will have a photo competition, portfolio review and a special butterfly shoot with Nancy Rotenberg.

Please go to www.gnpa.org for more details.

4-H plant sale taking pre-orders

In addition to enjoying a beautiful landscape and fresh berries, plant sale purchases also support many local 4-H programs. Last year, scholarships were provided for 4-H'ers to attend summer camp and the overnight speech competition at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Transportation costs to county and state events were also subsidized. Plant sales also fund the Awards Banquet, an annual program that highlights and recognizes individual achievements and contributions to the community. 4-H was able to donate school supplies and holiday meals after last year's flood.

More Cobb events and meetings......

Jan. 30 - Vintage Chevrolet Club of America Car Corral and Swap Meet. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Jim Miller Park. Admission: adults, $5, under 12, free.

Feb. 2 - Planning Commission zoning hearing. 9 a.m. BOC Room, second floor, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.

Feb. 9 - Board of Commissioners regular meeting. 9 a.m. BOC Room, second floor, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.

Feb. 9 - Cobb Workforce Investment Board Executive Committee meeting, 10 a.m. Via conference call. 770-528-4300.

Feb. 10 - Board of Zoning Appeals variance hearing. 1 p.m. BOC Room, second floor, 100 Cherokee St., Marietta.

Feb. 12 - Master Gardeners lunch and learn: Making the right cut. Noon-1 p.m. Central Library, 266 Roswell St., Marietta. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunches and enjoy the free gardening workshop.