Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Paulding Student Collects Pop Tabs to Help Ronald McDonald House

The following article appeared in the October 14th edition of the Paulding Neighbor. It is republished here with the express consent of the paper. 

Written by Mary Cosgrove:

Erick Fortner is well on his way to becoming a major donor for the Ronald McDonald House Foundation — and he’s only in the sixth grade.


Staff / Tom Spigolon
Erick Fortner stands with some of the 52,000 pop tabs from aluminum soda cans he has collected since 2013 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Foundation
.
The 12-year-old East Paulding Middle School student has jumped head first into a fervor for collecting pop tabs from aluminum beverage cans. The tabs are recycled and the profits funneled directly to the nonprofit, which gives families housing while their children are undergoing cancer treatments away from home.

Fortner, in this school year alone, has collected 24,700 pop tabs.

Since he began his passion for collecting pop tabs in the fifth grade, he has collected 52,900, more than halfway to meeting his goal of collecting more than 100,000.

“It’s fun for me to help other people out,” Fortner said of his interest in the project. “Parents that don’t have a lot of money, they need the money for their children who have cancer, and they can’t afford to stay in hotels. The pop tabs help them out.”

He said he has several methods of collecting the pop tabs, but a majority of what he receives is in the form of donations.

Fortner, son of Dawn and Walter Fortner of Dallas, also has helped spin his spirit into a competition among his classmates. A collection jar is set up in each of the five hallways at his middle school and whichever hallway collects the most pop tabs receives a small prize.

He said anyone who would like to donate pop tabs would be much appreciated.

“The people who want to help can drop them off at my school and I can collect them there,” he said.

Fortner was first introduced to the project through the 4-H Youth Development program at Paulding County’s UGA Extension Office.

Brittani Kelley, county extension agent who works with the youth program, said each month an agent travels to each of the middle schools in the county to speak with fifth-graders about leadership, public speaking and project achievement and lead them in science projects that coordinate with their teachers’ lesson plans.

It was then that the Ronald McDonald House project was discussed, and Fortner leapt into action.

The project started at a state conference in 2002 when middle school 4-H members approached the program administrators about a way to help the nonprofit, and so the pop tab collection began.

Since its inception, the statewide effort has collected 129,236 pounds of pop tabs for a total of more than $77,000 for the charity. The Paulding 4-H program has contributed slightly more than 14,000 in its efforts, with county members last year alone collecting 453 pounds.

Kelley said all of the 4-H members enjoy collecting pop tabs, but Fortner takes it to new heights.

“Erick has really gone above and beyond to try to collect pop tabs,” she said. “He would bring thousands and thousands each month. He’s really found that this is something near and dear to his heart and he’s passionate about it. He’s on fire about collecting pop tabs. I don’t think he realizes how much he is truly helping out.”

Making donations to charity is only one of the many things the 4-H program does in Paulding County, Kelley said. It’s not just about raising chickens and blue-ribbon pigs anymore, she said.

“There is something for everyone in 4-H, whether it’s Lego robotics teams, consumer judging for people who like to shop on a dime, forestry judging, shooting sports,” Kelley said. “Overall, it’s an all-encompassing positive youth organization that is about building strong leaders for tomorrow.”

The 4-H members meet once a month, focusing on things of individual interest, as well as learning valuable life skills, such as career readiness.

“Over the past 30 to 40 years, Georgia 4-H in general has gone full circle and increased diversity in programming,” she said.

For more information on the Paulding County 4-H program, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/Paulding/4H/

Shelton's Book Fair...More than Just Reading!

"The more you read the more things you know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go."
-Dr. Seuss
 
Every year, Shelton Elementary hosts its annual "Sir Readalot's Castle Book Fair." This year's fair just wrapped up. But we all know not everyone loves to read, right? In today's world filled with television, smartphones and video games, how do you make quietly sitting down with a book more appealing? Shelton's media specialist, Cathy Mattocks, gets her students involved.

Prior to the book fair's opening day, Ms. Mattocks issues three challenges: a reading, an art, and a writing challenge. And students take these challenges seriously!

Check out some of the creations the students made for this year's art challenge.










Aren't they creative? Awesome job!




Nebo First Graders Learn about Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire. The blaze killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, 1871, but did most of its damage on October 9th.

But how did this great blaze start? Popular legend blames a cow. There are several versions of the story, but basically a cow kicks over a lamp, sets the barn on fire, which then spreads to the entire city of Chicago. Other speculations: a couple of neighborhood boys set the barn on fire after smoking cigarettes or a neighbor set the fire. There's even a suggestion that a fiery meteorit may have fallen to the eart, starting several fires in Chicago, as well as in Michigan and Wisconsin. The cause really is a MOOt point. Fact is, the fire changed the way firefighters and public officials think about fire safety.In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed during the week October 9th falls.

Nebo Elementary's first graders got their lesson in fire safety, thanks to the Paulding County Fire Department. Firefighters showed students the protective gear they wear when fighting fires. And students got a chance to see inside a fire engine.







Thanks to the Paulding County Fire Department for their participation!

Monday, October 13, 2014

A Pumpkin Project

As I walked through the hallway of Ragsdale Elementary last week to grab pictures of Ms. Angela Barnett, who was named one of West Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center's Teachers of the Year, I walked past some AMAZING creations, sitting out on tables.

(Read more about Ms. Barnett's award.)

I think the art of carving pumpkins has really picked up in the past few years. Many people sharing their creations via social media, trying to out do one another. I know, this year, there are plans to have a big pumpkin eating a little pumpkin at my house.

But check out these amazing, dare I say, art creations Ragsdale's Kindergarteners created using pumpkins! Ms. Arnold says it is the "Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch".  It is a family project completed at home. They make a storybook character out of a pumpkin with their families!  


Awesome job!












Union Elementary's Book Parade

Last week, Union Elementary School held its annual Book Parade to kickoff this year's Book Fair!

Check it out:



Nebo Students Get a Taste of the High Life



Some lucky 2nd and 3rd graders from Nebo Elementary got to ride in style to a local Stevi B's for lunch!


 
The students won a limo ride after being the top sellers for the PTA's Fall Fundraiser.

Way to go, Superstars!

Recognizing Ragsdale Teachers



So often, we put the spotlight on our students, and rightfully so. Our students are doing amazing things inside our classrooms. But so are our teachers, and it's always nice to take a minute out of our busy day to recognize what they're doing as well.

At her last staff meeting, Ragsdale principal Ann Arnold recognized three teachers who are doing great things!

The unexpected award was for teacher Angela Barnett.

Ms. Barnett is one of two West Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center's Teachers of the Year. She is the only one from Paulding County.

The award was presented by West Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center's division president Steve Rich. 





WGYSTC's Steve Rich, teacher Angela Barnett, principal Ann Arnold



Ms. Arnold also recognized two other teachers that were nominated by fellow colleagues.

Staff Member of the Month 
Jamie McArthur, Special Needs Pre-K
 
Teacher of the Month
Darlene Pearson, 2nd Grade
 
Congratulations!!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Hutchens' Honey Bee Run

Students at Hutchens Elementary participated in the Honey Bee Run.

The Honey Bee Run is a great way for the students to get up and moving, all while earning money for the school.






Students can walk, jog, skip, gallop, and dance to the DJ, Karen Emerine, while completing their laps.




Hutchens' school mascot, Stinger, even got in on the fun!