Still Waiting on Thrashers Confirmation

As of Friday evening, Ms. Fountain had still not received confirmation on tickets for the Thrasher's Hockey game Monday.  Hopefully we will know something soon.  Keep checking back for updates.

Dylan Recognized for Awtrey Attitudes

Each month Awtrey teachers nominate students for demonstrating the "Awtrey Attitudes" as part of the school's character education emphasis.  This month Dylan was nominated by several teachers.

Dylan with Assistant Principal Ms. Evans.

Break Activities

We ended up being unable to obtain tickets to the KSU vs. Ga Tech game on Dec. 22.  Tech only allotted KSU a small number of tickets.  Because Tech is such a big game, KSU kept the tickets for their people.

KSU did graciously offer us tickets to a home game we will do on Feb 6th in place of the Tech game.  Crossover will be offered special recognition during half-time, get to tour the athletic facilities, and things of that nature.  This will be a fun night.

In place of the Tech game for a December event, we were offered tickets to the Thrashers hockey game on Monday the 21st.  We responded via email saying we are interested, but have yet to receive confirmation.  As soon as confirmation arrives, I will get word to you.  I apologize for the late notice.  Hopefully we will know something within the next day or so.

Christmas Party and End of Term Celebration

On December 17th we took the boys to Chilies to celebrate the ending of the first semester and the Christmas holiday break.  My Christmas present to the boys was a dress down pass they can use when they forget to dress up for Crossover.

Journal Topic:  Is it proper to say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?  Please explain your answer.

Mentee of the Month Recipients

The following students were awarded the honor of Mentee of the Month.  In addition to the recognition, they also received certificates and $50.00 gift cards to Best Buy.

Matt Karneol for the month of October.

Jakeem Zagloul for the month of November.

Byron Alexander for the month of December.

Haircut Flyer

Attached you will find the flyer enabling the boys to receive free haircuts. Hopefully we will have arrangements for the girls soon. Students will need to have this card in order to participate. While this arrangement is a perk of being in Crossover, parents will need to transport the students on their own for the haircuts.
To print the card, right click on the photo and select print.

Week of Dec 10

Continuing our theme of law enforcement month, we had three officers from the Cobb Anti Gang Enforcement department. Officers Shawn Vereen, Mrs. Meshburn, and John McLaughlin discussed ways gangs try to recruit younger members, the traps they use, and options for avoiding involvement. Unknown to me is that Georgia law defines gang activity as a group of three or more people, and that some misdemeanors when coupled with a “gang activity” can become a felony offense.

Journal Topic: What steps can you take to avoid being drawn into gang activity?

I am still waiting on confirmation of the GA Tech tickets. I’ve put in another call and am waiting on a response.

Next week we will eat out as part of a Christmas celebration. Permission slips will be emailed home.

Officers Vereen, Meshburn & McLaughlin talk about

gang involvement with the boys.

Paintball is Coming

I was able to get tickets for paintball!  It will be a year end event we do toward the end of the school year.  The boys will have to use extra dead presidents they earn to be able to go on the trip.  The coupons cover equipment rental, field fees, and 500 paintballs each!

Week of Dec 12

Officer Jeff Rose from the Acworth Police Department spoke to the boys about the dynamics of a career in law enforcement, the reality of gang participation, and the dangers of drug addiction. He commended the guys for the wise choice of participating in programs like Crossover where they have positive peer influence and warned them about the temptations they would be facing between now and when they graduate from high school.
Journal Topic: Why is it important to have a police force?

Officer Rose discusses police work with the guys.

Disability Simulations

This week the counseling team and the graduation coach conducted disability awareness simulations as part of the classroom guidance curriculum. Students participated in twelve different simulations that allowed them to experience some aspect of having a disability in an effort to help them better understand what it is like to live with an impairment. The simulations include activities such as navigating an obstacle course in a wheelchair, doing a faith walk to demonstrate blindness, using sign language and muffled directions to show hearing difficulty, reading a passage that mirrors Dyslexia, completing tasks with excessive distractions to model Attention Deficit Disorder, and completing tasks having lost use of their arms or fine motor skills.

Dylan does the Wheelchair obstacle course.

Logan does Mouth Writing.

Aquarium Trip Resheduled

Due to the football banquet and another conflict Saturday morning, I told the boys we would reschedule the aquarium trip for some time in the spring. I am working on tickets for the Ga Tech vs. KSU game on December 22nd. The game is at 2:00, at Tech. If it works out, we will meet at noon for lunch, then go to the game and be back around 5:30 or so. I should hear confirmation by Tuesday of next week.

With that being the week leading into Christmas, please let me know if you know for sure you won’t be able to attend. I can invite crossover members from the other schools to attend once I know how many tickets we will have available.