BOE hosts Pickens schools and sports teams recognitions
Board of Education, Dragon's Corner November 12, 2021
PICKENS, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Education recognized several of Pickens County’s schools and sports teams during their latest meeting. The recognitions included GAC accreditations, and Mountain League Region Champion titles.
School Recognitions:
Destiny Shope, Director of Public Involvement and Community Involvement, began by recognizing the Pickens County School District as a whole, “All schools in Pickens County were accredited with quality, and that means the district is also accredited with quality.” The accreditation comes from the Georgia Accrediting Commission. “The accrediting process prompts local schools and school districts to provide better and safer physical facilities and to improve the qualifications of staff members, teaching conditions, and curriculum,” Shope explained.
Mrs. Marla Callahan, Principal of Harmony Elementary; Mrs. Jennifer Halko, Principal of Hill City Elementary; Mrs. Stephanie Hall, Principal of Tate Elementary; Mr. Corey Thompson, Principal of Jasper Middle; Dr. Chad Flatt, Principal of Pickens Junior High; and Mr. Tony Young, Superintendent of the Pickens County School District each received their school’s certificate of accreditation at the meeting. Pickens High Principal Chris Wallace was unable to attend.
Janet Goodman, Director of Federal Programs, then recognized Hill City Elementary for their Title I designation, “Their school continues to get statewide and national recognition for the good work they’re doing.” That work, Goodman says, includes supplemental literacy support programs like iRead, Star Reading, and Leveled Readers to “make sure that every child is ready to move on to the next grade level with their reading ability.” Goodman then mentioned that Prinicipal Halko has also “been asked to present in a Teams meeting … where she is going to present to the state and talk about all the innovations at Hill City and to tell them why she believes that what they’re doing is the best work that they can do.” Hill City was further recognized for their 2021 National ESEA designation. Only two schools in the state of Georgia were chosen to receive this award, Goodman says.
Sports Recognitions:
Pickens Junior High:
Athletic Director Kanyon Petti spoke briefly before the recognitions of the PHJS softball team and 8th grade football team: “I walked into the best group of coaches and kids that I could ever have imagined. These teams are truly doing phenomenal things, and I really feel like I don’t have to do a lot, because the coaches and the kids are doing such a great job.”
“What I’m here to recognize is the accomplishments of two of our fall sports teams … tonight we’re here to recognize the Mountain League Region Champion softball team, and then our eighth grade … Mountain League Super Bowl Champion football team,” she continued, “I think it’s important to really say that neither team has a Cinderella story, because both of them have dominated for years … but it doesn’t really take away the countless hours that they put in to get to this point.”
Pickens High:
Coach Williams spoke for Principal Wallace at the meeting to recognize Pickens High School Volleyball and Cross Country teams, “First we have our volleyball team, and we’re very proud of their accomplishments this year … It’s been 17 years since we have had any major success … in our volleyball program.” The PHS Volleyball team placed fourth in the region, and then went on to play in the Elite 8. Williams continued, “These ladies played their hearts out. They represented Pickens High School and Pickens County school system very well.”
Williams then recognized the PHS Girl’s Cross Country team saying, “These young ladies, again, worked very hard and were … still fairly young and looking forward to great things coming in the future, but again placed fourth in the region … and then was able to go to the state tournament in Carrollton … and end up placing ninth in the state.”
He followed with the PHS Boy’s Cross Country team, “They won their fourth straight region championship and seventh region championship in the last nine years … all these students that we brought before you tonight are some of the best that Pickens High School has to offer … and I’m very thankful to be associated with them as their athletic director and work with these coaches.”
After recognitions, the board addressed several other action items, including approval to name a PHS court after Coach Cowart.
Nettes’ split with gilmer and cass on senior night
PHS Volleyball, Sports, Team FYN Sports August 28, 2020
The Pickens Dragonettes (4-6, 1-0) welcomed the Gilmer Lady Cats and the Cass Lady Colonels in a non-region tri-match on Thursday, August 27th. With how things are in the world today, tonight was also Senior Night for the Pickens Dragonettes. The first match of the evening featured the all too familiar 515 rivalry of Pickens and Gilmer. The Lady Cats, came into the match with an overall record of 5-2. As you know, when it comes to Pickens and Gilmer, records get thrown out the window.
The first game was highly competitive as both teams made some spectacular plays, trading point for point the majority of the game. Gilmer was able to come away with the first game, 25-20 over the Nettes. The Nettes looked to even things up in game two, but the Lady Cats were able to take that one as well after another tough battle, 25-18.
Gilmer serving to Pickens in the first match of the evening
After the Lady Cats match with the Nettes, they had to turn right around and face the Lady Colonels of Cass in their second match. Cass jumped out to an early lead on Gilmer in the first game, but the Lady Cats came back to take it, 25-17. In the second game, Gilmer kept the ball rolling and won it 25-12 to sweep the match and end the night 2-0.
Gilmer setting up a spike attempt as Cass looks to block
With the sweep, Gilmer now sits at 7-2 overall. They will take on region opponent Cherokee Bluff and non-region opponent Hart County at Cherokee Bluff on Tuesday, and host Pickens and Fannin County in a non-region tri-match on Thursday.
After the Gilmer and Cass match ended, it was time for the Senior Night presentation. In what was a very classy gesture by the hosting Pickens High School, they recognized the three seniors from Gilmer, and the seniors from Cass prior to recognizing the nine seniors on the Nettes roster.
Once all the Senior Night festivities were over, it was time for the final match of the evening between the Nettes and the Lady Colonels. Cass, jumped out to an 8-3 lead and an 11-7 lead at one point before Pickens rallied back to take the first game 25-16. In the second game, both teams traded points as again the Nettes had to rally from behind. After tying things up at 13 points a piece, Pickens rattled off 12 straight points to take the second game 25-13 to sweep the match.
The Nettes were able to split after taking the match against Cass
On Tuesday, the Nettes will travel to Rossville Georgia to take on the Ridgeland Lady Panthers and the Heritage Lady Generals in a 7-AAAA region tri-match. That is slated to start at 5 pm. On Thursday, as mentioned earlier, the Nettes will make the short trip up to Ellijay to take on the Gilmer Lady Cats and the Fannin Lady Rebels in a non-region tri-match. That is also scheduled to start at 5 pm.