CCSD Elementary Students Succeed At Science Olympiad

Press release from CCSD:

March 31, 2023

Cherokee County School District students recently demonstrated their science skills at a countywide competition!

More than 500 students from elementary schools throughout CCSD competed in the Cherokee County Science Olympiad, which offered 18 science challenges and the second annual CCSD Speed Building Competition. Cobb Electric Membership Corporation and Gas South sponsor the annual event, which gives students the opportunity to test their knowledge and skill in challenges like Backyard Biologists, Data Crunchers and Mystery Architecture.

The overall winning teams are: first place, Hickory Flat Elementary School Team 1; second place, Woodstock Elementary School Team 1; third place, Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy Team 1. It’s the second year in a row for Hickory Flat ES to win first place.

“Our young scientists were ready to compete and have fun at the Science Olympiad, and it was a blast to watch them work and celebrate their success,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “Congratulations to all of our winning students and their outstanding teacher coaches! Thank you to the organizers, volunteers and sponsors for all you do to make this day a success.”

Hickory Flat’s team is coached by teachers Colton Christian, Michelle Kozak and Chris Phillips; team members are: Devin Ayral, Brieley Darling, Jules Kennery, Ethan Lawson-Body, Mikayla Lawson-Body, Joseph Lenyszyn, Ethan Lindsey, Max Losner, Ashley Mathew, Logan McCarthy, Jaxson Montgomery, Ava Murray, Holden Oliver, Graham Plousis, Risa Pratish, Devadarshan Ramprabu, Maddie Ruotolo, Max Silverman, Grayson Swenson and Couper West.

Woodstock’s team is coached by teachers Caitlin Crews, Katie Hunter, Kelsey Francen and Mimi Mitchell; team members are: Alvin Chen, Caroline Cohen, Lauren DiGiulio, Megan DiGiulio, Adriana Dorsey, Rocco Franzini, Youseff Ghaly, Connor Glaser, Caroline Heffner, Celesty Hizown, Beau Houchens, Drew Johansen, Dhanya Kamalakannan, Ava Lee, Jayden Lin, Derrick Ng, Roan Paramaeswaran, Ethan Pavsner, Vini Santo, Eloise Taylor, Jonah Turner and Logan Woods

The top winners of the Speed Building Competition, a challenge in Lego building and teamwork, are: first place and the $300 prize, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy; second place and $250, Macedonia ES; third place and $200, Liberty ES. Clark Creek ES STEM Academy teacher Teresa Bailey coaches its team made up of Brady Banko, Brian McCullough, Patrick Paladines and Lacie Snyder.

Individual event winners:

Backyard Biologists: first, Holly Springs Team 1; second, Macedonia Team Purple; third, Arnold Mill Team 1

Barge Building: first, Johnston Team 1; second, Clayton Team 1; third, Free Home Team Red

Bridge Building: first, Woodstock Team 1; second, Clark Creek Team Red; third, Hickory Flat Team 1

Crime Busters: first, Arnold Mill Team 1; second, Mountain Road Team Red; third, Boston Team 1

Data Crunchers: first, Clark Creek Team Red; second, Hickory Flat Team 1; third, Bascomb Team 1

Deep Blue Sea: first, Hickory Flat Team 1; second, Liberty Team 1; third, Johnston Team 1

Disease Detectives: first, Bascomb Team 1; second, Ball Ground Team 1; third, Sixes Team 1

Egg Drop: first, Liberty Team 1; second, Bascomb Team 1; third, Little River Team Purple

Grab a Gram: first, Woodstock Team 1; second, Little River Team Purple; third, a tie between Hickory Flat Team 1 and Arnold Mill Team 1

Metric Mastery: first, Boston Team 1; second, Woodstock Team 1; third, Holly Springs Team 1

Mystery Architecture: first, Hickory Flat Team 1; second, Bascomb Team 1; third, Macedonia Team Purple

No Bones About It: first, Clayton Team 1; second, Knox Team 1; third, Little River Team Purple

Paper Rockets: first, Clayton Team 1; second, Arnold Mill Team 1; third, Woodstock Team 1

Rock Hound: first, Hickory Flat Team 1; second, Little River Team Purple; third, Bascomb Team 1

Simple Machines: first, Hickory Flat Team 1; second, Woodstock Team 1; third, Sixes Team 1

Starry, Starry Night: first, Holly Springs Team 1; second, Boston Team 1; third, Little River Team Purple

Water Rockets: first, Liberty Team 1; second, Holly Springs Team 1; third, Woodstock Team 1

Weather or Not: first, Holly Springs Team 1; second, Hickory Flat Team 1; third, Mountain Road Team Red

This press release was produced by CCSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.