CARROLLTON, GA — Carrollton High School students embarked on a journey of exploration and discovery through an enrichment experience funded by Carrollton City Schools Education Foundation. The trip to Crystal River, Fl., not only promoted health and wellness but also cultivated independence through travel.

As January came to a close, a group of students and faculty loaded buses bound for Florida. Taking the scenic route, students were able to travel beyond Carroll County, exploring new landscapes during a three-day trip from home that allowed them to further develop life skills, healthy choices, and self-confidence.

CCS Director of Student Services Mary Raburn shared about the positive lifelong impact learning beyond the walls of a classroom can have on students. 

“The goal of this trip was to show students that learning and adventure are accessible to everyone,” said Raburn. “By participating in hands-on experiences like this, students gain confidence in themselves and their ability to engage fully in school and life.”

Centered on the importance of health and wellness, school nurses and staff members provided informational sessions about nutrition and fitness, including the timing of meals and exercise to maximize health benefits. Throughout the trip, excursions were designed with a dual purpose: to provide students with immersive learning experiences while reflecting on decision-making in real-world settings. 

From touring state parks to snorkeling down rivers and learning about the regional wildlife, students were able to step away from everyday routines, connect with nature, and put their skills into practice. One student shared with chaperones that she had never traveled outside the state of Georgia until this trip, making the experience especially meaningful. Bridging learning with eye-opening experiences is at the heart of the Carrollton City Schools Education Foundation. 

After first observing manatees in an aquarium, and then, again, through glass-bottom boats, students reached the grand finale of the trip: swimming face-to-face with the manatees in their natural habitat.

Early on the final morning of the trip, everyone geared up in wetsuits, listened to the safety instructions, and entered Crystal River with excitement, anticipation, and assurance that they were prepared to take on this new experience. 

Through this meaningful excursion, CHS senior Grayson George shared how the trip is now a milestone in his high school career. 

“It was truly a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Grayson. Describing swimming with the manatees as “fascinating,” he said being up close to these creatures was “a sight to behold,” noting he hopes other students will be able to participate in trips like this in the future. 

The CCS Education Foundation supported the trip to help students gain confidence in new experiences. With every field trip, the foundation invests in each child’s future by expanding their horizons while reinforcing that learning and exploration should never feel limiting.

“These are the kinds of experiences that create lasting memories while expanding students’ perspectives of the world around them,” said CCS Education Foundation Executive Director, Brooke Mobley. “We’re honored to help make opportunities like this possible.” 

To learn more or to support enrichment experiences for students at Carrollton City Schools, visit www.carrolltoncityschools.net/community/foundation.

CHS students, sophomore Brody Robinson (left) and senior Grayson George (right), give thumbs up to swimming with the manatees at Crystal River, Fl.
 

Pictured from left, front to back, are Isabella Johnson, Reis Grimes, Anunika Coleman, Ollie Purvis, and Grayson George, observing a manatee through an observation window during a glass-bottom boat ride at Silver Springs State Park in Florida. 
 

CARROLLTON, GA – For the eighth year in a row, Carrollton High School has won the Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide initiative to promote the importance of computer science. This year, students created an application titled NexStep, focused on college readiness, including checklists and guidance for each year of high school. The team will present the app to Congress in Washington, D.C., at the annual #HouseOfCode festival on Capitol Hill over spring break.

Spearheaded by the U.S. House of Representatives and supported by leading industry companies like Apple, Amazon, Meta, the Broadcom Foundation, and Comcast, among others, the program aims to inspire middle and high school students to explore the field of computer science. Members of Congress are responsible for organizing the contests in their respective districts, and Rep. Brian Jack chose the winning app for Georgia's Third District.

“Mr. Blakemore and his students have worked incredibly hard to produce high-quality content for the Congressional App Challenge, allowing them to stand out and be selected for this honor,” said CHS Principal Ian Lyle. “I am proud of their hard work and know that they will continue to represent Carrollton High School well at the program in D.C. later this spring.” 

The team of student creators, senior Omar DeJesus, junior Wade Ballard, sophomore Alaina Dhople, and sophomore Juliet Browning, created their app called NexStep to serve as a tool for students to manage their goals and take the extra steps needed to excel in college applications. This marks Omar’s third year winning this competition and Alaina and Wade’s second, with Juliet joining the team for the first time. When considering ideas for this year’s app, the team looked for areas that students could use additional support or guidance. Knowing the competitive landscape of college admissions, these students wanted to develop an app that would be both practical and supportive for their peers. 

NexStep features interactive grade-level maps that guide students through critical milestones. Each goal provides actionable insights into the purpose and execution of every task. For example, the app explains the importance of campus involvement to freshmen and provides clear steps for joining a club. By completing these checkpoints, students can easily track their progress toward building the robust portfolios required for college applications.

CHS computer science teacher Robby Blakemore encourages his students to use technology to create effective and meaningful solutions, and the Congressional App Challenge team rose to the occasion again this year.

“I challenge my students to use their learning to solve real-world issues,” Blakemore said. “This year, they took on education inequality and their creativity showed what's possible when students are empowered to lead.”

Knowing their fellow CHS students can benefit from their app made the experience even more meaningful for the team. 

Two-time winner Wade Ballard said, “Representing Carrollton High School at the House of Code will be an incredible opportunity. More than anything, I’m proud that our work has the potential to help those around me.”

Blakemore noted that this new app is in the final stages of publishing, but other CHS teams have created apps that are available and free to download in the App Store, including last year’s App Challenge winner, TrojanAdvocate.   
 

Carrollton High School computer science students will present the winning app to Congress in Washington, D.C., during spring break in April. Pictured from left are CHS Principal Ian Lyle, Alaina Dhople, Juliet Browning, Wade Ballard, Omar DeJesus, and CHS Computer Science teacher Robby Blakemore. 

CARROLLTON, GA — Carrollton Upper Elementary School hosted an impactful family engagement night led by the Aspiring Leaders program, a group of teachers who take on additional leadership development opportunities. The Hispanic heritage-themed event took place on Jan. 22 and was designed to provide a welcoming environment where families could discover more about the school, learn, and celebrate together.

This night was all about family engagement and providing Hispanic families with the opportunity to have fun with their children while learning more about how to academically support them at home through the translated activities and resources available. Native Spanish-speaking translators were available to support parents in discussions with teachers. The event opened with students welcoming their families and practicing their public speaking skills to begin the programming. 
The teachers who spearheaded this event were Whitney Meigs, Amy Cantrell, and Kayley Sanders. They were supported by Carrollton City Schools Bilingual Parent Liaison Marissa Ramos.

CUES Principal Tabitha Walker said, “Our goal is to include all families in our school, and this night was designed to make our Hispanic families feel seen and valued.” 

The evening was full of materials delivered in both English and Spanish. These learning activities included skills development in STEM, parent resources, language arts, and math. Families were able to work together on reading strategies, which included a “reading passport”. Families also visited a “math market” learning station to calculate purchasing goods within a budget. In the STEM lab, students from CHS helped teach about traditional teas and coffee from Latin America. The CHS IB students created recipes and demonstrated to families how to mix the drinks. Mr. Marti, Spanish teacher at CHS, provided families with an authentic Latin experience using ingredients and supplies that reflected Latin culture. Families enjoyed drinking these traditional teas and coffee alongside their children. 

CUES teacher Whitney Meigs is a part of the CCS Aspiring Leaders program which organized this event. She reflected on the night’s success.  

“Hispanic Heritage Night was a wonderful celebration of our students, families, and cultures,” said Meigs. “It was incredible to see so many families learning together, sharing their stories, and feeling proud of who they are.” 

Families shared that they enjoyed the night and left with ways to support their children at home. To conclude the event, parents provided feedback through a survey. Looking ahead, CUES will continue to find ways to engage all families within the school community. 
 

CUES students, pictured from left, Perla Rodriguez Jimenes, Dylan Martinez Arita, Monica Casco Valle, Ashly Barahona Cortes, and Marcos Lobos Rivera read during a presentation to demonstrate their public speaking skills.

CUES teachers Alexis Rey (left) and Amy Cantrell (right) are members of the Carrollton City Schools Aspiring Leaders program, who planned the themed family engagement event.

CHS junior Lissa Sajche assists with translating and working through a math assignment at the CUES family engagement night. 
 

Carrollton City Schools Bilingual Parent Liaison Marissa Ramos, CHS students Jose Rodriguez, Marco Rodriguez, Erik Garcia, Luis Marti Reyes, and IB instructor Luis Marti, stand at the family engagement night station where families could try authentic teas and coffee from Latin America.