Riverview Elementary School highlighted at work session
Board of Education February 3, 2022
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Education welcomed teachers from Riverview Elementary School to present their teaching and learning efforts using technology at its February work session.
Angela Buytendorp, Christy Millholland and Beth Murray represented the school in discussing the challenges of virtual learning and transitioning back to classrooms.
Especially for early grades, relying heavily on technology tested both students and teachers.
Riverview Elementary School teachers’ response to COVID
After talking with the teachers, Brian DeRose, the coordinator of instructional technology, submitted the presentation to the Georgia Educational Technology Conference.
According to DeRose, the conference in 2021 only accepted half of the submitted presentations, which included theirs.
Buytendorp, Millholland and Murray not only had to engage the students, but also the parents.
At the work session on Feb. 1, the Board of Education listened to efforts to enhance learning with technology.
When outlining the teaching process, DeRose explained, “It wasn’t just pushing out homework assignments and assessments online, but it was the training the parents in doing these projects.”
For example, parents created digital valentines with their kindergartners and first graders. The teachers compiled these valentines into the students’ personal folders to read at the end of Valentine’s Day.
To keep students ready for in-person learning, the teachers wanted to make virtual learning feel like a classroom.
Buytendorp, Millholland and Murray felt routine was the key. They attempted to mirror daily classroom structure as closely as possible.
Teachers worried about children missing out on social activities as well as academics.
In their presentation, Buytendorp, Millholland and Murray gave examples of both challenges and solutions with virtual learning.
One approach to address these concerns was a talent show. Another figured out a way to still celebrate birthdays by everyone eating a favorite cookie together.
Even though the setting changed, Buytendorp, Millholland and Murray proved younger students could adapt and be a normal class.
“I think COVID really did a lot for our teachers as far as transforming everyone,” DeRose said. “But these ladies with the little K-2 have really come a long way in the classroom.”
GDOT plan for SR 9, Dawson Forest Rd intersection on display at Riverview Elementary Tuesday
News May 14, 2018DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) will host an open house Tuesday, May 15, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Riverview Elementary School to give the public a look at a new design for the intersection of Dawson Forest Road and state Route (SR) 9.
The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance traffic operations and reduce crash frequency. There are two intersections on SR 9 and both provide right-turn access to Dawson Forest Road via a connector street. This project will update the current unsignalized intersections by constructing two independent single-lane roundabouts.
The meeting will be an informative public meeting and citizens in attendance will learn more about the plans for the future roundabouts on state Route (SR) 9 and Dawson Forest Road.
Citizens will be able to view a layout and also speak with Georgia DOT engineers and staff to provide answers to any questions they may have.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
GDOT to hold open house on double roundabout Mar. 12
News March 5, 2019
ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will hold an open house on March 12 at Riverview Elementary School in Dawsonville to answer questions and gather feedback from citizens regarding a detour route necessitated by a planned double roundabout at the intersections of Hwy. 9 and Dawson Forest Road.
The project proposes replacing two existing intersections with two single-lane roundabouts. The open house is intended to provide the public with an opportunity to view the proposed detour, ask questions and comment on the project and detour.
The open house will be held from 5-7 p.m. and the public can drop in any time.
The roundabouts have been in the works since at least 2011, when GDOT asked county officials to support improvements at the busy intersection.
GDOT held an open house in May 2018 to show the plans for the intersection improvements to the public.
Officials with GDOT stated that right of way will have to be acquired for the project, which is estimated to cost around $4 million.
The double roundabout is estimated to open in the summer or fall of 2021 after 18 to 24 months of construction. GDOT is expected to award the contracts for the work in July, with a potential start date for construction later in the summer.
The reason that two single-lane roundabouts are necessary at the crossroads is due to the existing structure of the two intersections, GDOT officials have said. The roundabouts will be constructed independently of each other since the existing intersections are offset from each other.
Katie Strickland, District One communications officer with GDOT, said that once completed, the roundabouts will actually reduce conflict points and enhance safety.
“You’re not going to have the high-speed angle crashes, you’re not going to have the left turn crashes, you’re not going to have the head-on collisions,” Stickland said. So those three will be eliminated from these roundabouts.”
Between 2009 and 2014, there were 40 crashes, 30 injuries and no fatalities at the intersection, according to Strickland.
“Converting this to the roundabout could result in reducing crashes by 45.6 percent, and that was part of the study that (GDOT) did,” she said.
Strickland also said that the traffic capacity of the intersection will last for 20 years.
The open house will be informal and the public is invited to attend at any time during the two-hour window. A court reporter will be available to allow the public an opportunity to make verbal comments about the project.
Written statements will be accepted concerning the project until March 12.Written statements may be submitted to:
Mr. Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator, Georgia Department of Transportation, 600 West Peachtree Street, NW – 16th Floor, Atlanta, 30308.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
GDOT officials answer questions about roundabout planned for Dawson Forest Rd. and State Route 9
News May 16, 2018
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Those who attended the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) public information session at Riverview Elementary School Tuesday came away with a better understanding of the purpose of the proposed double roundabouts at the intersection of State Route 9 and Dawson Forest Road.
GDOT officials were on hand to answer questions and listen to suggestions. They also handed out packets that contained a comment card so additional comments could submitted.
Those who could not attend the meeting can still provide comments online until May 30 at www.dot.ga.gov/PS/Public/PublicOutreach. Additionally, questions can be directed to Heidi Schneider at HSchneider@dit,ga.gov or by calling 68-518-3677.
GDOT officials say the purpose of the project is to enhance traffic operations and reduce crash frequency. It is based on a feasibility study that determined two, single-lane roundabouts are the most favorable intersection control alternative.
The total length of the project is approximately six tenths of a mile. The two roundabouts will be constructed independent of each other. They would consist of 140-foot diameter, 20-foot circulating lane, a 15-foot wide truck apron and 70-foot diameter center island. Curb and gutter would be installed along the outside of the roundabouts with a mountable curb along the inside for the truck apron.
The project is approximately one-quarter mile from Riverview Elementary and 700-feet from Dawson County Fire Station 7.
Northeast District Communications Director Katie Strickland said the project will be let in July 2019 and is expected to take 18-24 months to complete.
County Commissioners Julie Nix attended the meeting and said she enthusiastically supports the project.
“I’m excited about it. This will make it so much safer for everyone. Riverview was built in 2010 and we started hearing from parents of students in 2011 about how dangerous that intersection is. It has taken a long time to move it forward, but when (State Rep.) Kevin Tanner was elected, he was able to get the project fast tracked.”
Fire Chief/EMA Director Danny Thompson said he supports the project but does have some concern about the congestion that could be created in front of the fire station in the morning when school buses and parents are dropping off students at Riverview and in the afternoon when they pick them up.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Dawson Board of Education Selects Officers for 2017
News January 12, 2017
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Dawson County Board of Education met Tuesday and elected Doris Cook as Chairperson for 2017 and Karen Armstrong Vice Chairperson.
The Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP) Educational Patron Award went to Paige Danuser, a retired educator who works as a volunteer at Black’s Mill Elementary School and the GAESP School Bell Award went to the Student Council members at Black’s Mill Elementary.
Under the consent agenda the Board approved:
Field trips to the Dawson County High School Technical School Association to the State Leadership Conference in Athens, the DCHS Chamber Singers for a performance at Dollywood and the DCHS Thespians to the Thespian Theatre Conference in Columbus;
A CCRPI report prepared by Director of Teaching and Learning Nicole LeCave that showed all elementary schools scored above the state average, Riverview Elementary School scored 91.7, a 22 point improvement since 2013, both middle schools and the high school ranked in the Top 5 in the RESA District;
The Financial Report for the period ending Dec. 2016 that showed a general fund balance of $44,199 543 less expenditures of $38,270,758 for a balance of $5,928,785.
The December eSPLOST report that showed collections well ahead of projections. Projected collections were $4,400,000 while actual collections are $4,768,886.
Per Diem for Board members;
2017 meeting schedule;
Position Guide for Chief Operations Officer;
Position Guide for Warehouse Courier;
Riverview Elementary School Awarded Georgia Office of Student Achievement’s (GOSA) Gold Award
Riverview Elementary January 9, 2017
Riverview Elementary School was awarded the 2016 Georgia Office of Student Achievement’s (GOSA) Gold Award for Greatest Gains on January 5, 2017. This school award, developed by GOSA and approved by the State Board of Education, is a part of the state’s Single Statewide Accountability System. Greatest Gains schools exhibit high growth in student achievement. To be awarded gold status, Riverview Elementary School earned a three-year average CCRPI Progress Score in the 97th percentile. In addition to this award, the elementary school achieved its highest overall CCRPI score of 91.7 in 2016.
“Riverview Elementary School’s teachers, staff and administrators are to be commended for working tirelessly to meet the needs of every student. The district is proud of Riverview Elementary School and congratulates them on their accomplishments.”
A. Damon Gibbs, EdD
Dawson County Women Face Charges for Violation of School Truancy Laws
News June 1, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Two Dawson County mothers have been arrested and charged with violating Georgia’s school truancy laws.
Morgan Lee, 30, was arrested May 18. She remains in the Dawson County jail and is charged with 14 violations. Anna Peacock was arrested Tuesday. She faces three truancy charges and has been released on her own recognizance.
Sheriff Billy Carlisle said arrests for violations of school truancy laws are very rare. “I don’t believe I’ve seen this since I became sheriff, maybe back in the 1980’s,” he said.
A Dawson County Grand Jury handed down the indictment against the two women and the Northwestern Judicial Circuit Senior Judge John Girardeau issued the arrest warrants.
According to the indictment against Lee, she failed to send her child to Riverview Elementary School 14 times after being notified that the child had more than five unexcused absences.
Peacock’s indictment says she failed to send her child to Black’s Mill Elementary School three times after receiving notice of five unexcused absences.
At the start of each school year, parents are required to sign a form explaining attendance requirements and informing them of penalties for non-compliance.