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School briefs

Whitewater’s Ridge Davis wins ASYO competition

Ridge Davis, a concert flute player and ninth-grader at Whitewater High School, was recently named one of two winners in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra’s annual concerto competition.

The prize earns the Fayetteville resident a coveted spot as one of two featured soloist in the ASYO’s upcoming Winter Concert, March 12 at 3 p.m. at Symphony Hall.

Davis is just one of four flute players in the 2004-05 ASYO. Nearly 400 students from throughout metro Atlanta audition annually for a position in the highly recognized orchestra, but most of them are juniors and seniors.

In addition to his membership in the ASYO, Davis auditioned and was awarded a seat in the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, Emory University; First Chair District Honor Band; First Round All-State Competition; and Third Chair in the Georgia Music Educator’s Association All-State Concert Band.

He’s scheduled to audition for a chance to study this summer at North Carolina’s Brevard Music Center, and he’ll attend the National Flute Association Competition in San Diego as well.

Ridge is the son of Chuck and Dot Davis of Fayetteville. His instructors include Joanne Brandes of Fayetteville; Christina Smith, ASO principal flute; and Doug Dee, band director at Whitewater High.

Mercy choir takes part in Archbishop’s service

Taize, the choir from Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School in north Fayette County, recently was invited to participate in the cannonization installation of the new Archbishop for the Atlanta Catholic Archdiocese, Wilton D. Gregory.

Taize was the only high school group among the four choirs from across North Georgia asked to be part or the special liturgical ceremony, held Jan. 17 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Collge Park.

An estimated 15,000 people were in attendance, including Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, who did the formal installation. Gregory is the sixth archbishop of Atlanta, and seventh bishop, succeeding Archbishop John F. Donoghue who retired after 11 years. Hundreds of priests and other church officials from around the country were also present.

Taize is named for a small village in the Burgundy region of France where a noted ecumenical group of brothers formed a local community in the 1940s, centered around a choir that developed a special style of singing described as meditative, with chant-like melodies and “prayer songs.”

Cynthia and Franck Launay-Fallasse of Newnan direct the small group, founded just three years ago. Already, Taize has received numerous accolades and been asked to sing at a number of special events around metro Atlanta.

Braelinn P.E. program receives national honor

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recently named Braelinn Elementary School in Peachtree City as a STARS “level one” school in recognition of its outstanding physical education program.

Braelinn was one of just 17 schools recognized nationwide for the quality of its total P.E. program, meeting national standards and guidelines that included adequate facilities and equipment, effective lesson plans and licensed P.E. teachers.

Principal Wenonah Bell and P.E. teacher Suzanne Wojcik will travel to Chicago this spring to be recognized at the national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Starr’s Mill’s Sarah Stitt wins poetry contest

Sarah Stitt, a freshman at Starr's Mill High School, was recently awarded first place, High School Division in the 2004 Fayette Writer's Guild Poetry Contest.

Sarah received her award for her poem, "This Place," read in January at Barnes & Noble booksellers in Fayetteville. Carol Lunsford, Poetry Contest Chairperson of the Fayette Writer’s Guild, presented Sarah with the award.

Eighth-graders learning about careers this week

Over 2,000 eighth-grade students from Fayette County are attending the first countywide Career Fair through today at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds Complex in Fayetteville.

The event, coordinated by the Fayette County’s middle achool counselors, brings more than 40 exhibitors together to provide information about the many career possibilities that exist in our own community.

As part of the Georgia Quality Core Curriculum Standards, school counselors are expected to provide students opportunities to develop career self-awareness, to connect educational and occupational exploration, and to learn about the process of career planning. This collaborative effort will allow students to interact with community volunteers, who represent a variety of skills, talents, and abilities.

The students will benefit by gaining exposure to numerous occupations and learning about the educational requirements and training needed to enter specific occupations.