At its Oct. 20 regular meeting, the Oconee County Board of Education recognized staff and students and heard a presentation about Oconee County Elementary School’s second-to-third grade “step-up” day.

The board honored transportation staff member John McElroy as the Pursuit of Excellence award winner for transportation. Board member Mr. Carcliff read nomination comments saying McElroy is “always willing to lend a hand” and that “the best part of my job is the people.” The recognition included a plaque from Oconee County Schools and gift cards and merchandise donated by community partners, including Peach State Federal Credit Union, Chops and Hops and Rosie’s Hometown Meats. The board also noted the art display for the month, provided by students from Oconee County Elementary School; the advisor is Michelle Jones.

The board congratulated Dove Creek Middle student Caleb Parsons for an FFA State Fair award and recognized the board’s exemplary board honor from the Georgia School Boards Association, an award the district has received annually since 2015.

In a longer presentation, Jennifer Lockridge, principal of Oconee County Elementary School, introduced staff and community partners and described a coordinated relationship between Oconee County Primary (K–2) and Oconee County Elementary (3–5) intended to create “one campus” for families. Lockridge said the schools use shared professional development, joint events and aligned calendars to ease transitions.

Erin Carroll, a teacher who helped design the step-up day, said the event was meant to “turn nerves into excitement” while communicating continued expectations for students. Carroll said staff raised funds from community sponsors and collaborated with the PTO, Oconee County Middle School cheerleaders and student council to give incoming third graders shirts, tours, activities and leadership interactions.

Carroll described student-led, project-based tasks that reinforced third-grade math standards: “students had to use math skills to solve practical problems such as 10,000 beads had to be divided between 165 students,” she said, and students calculated string requirements and room measurements to prepare materials for incoming students.

Two students who participated described the day in brief remarks. Andy, introduced as a third grader at OCES, said the event eased his nerves and left him “excited to start third grade.” Charlotte, introduced as a third grader, said she felt welcome and that the activities made her feel ready for third grade. Parent Leah Fuller said the event “completely altered the narrative” for her family and helped a previously shy child return home “bouncing off the walls.”

The board’s recognitions and the presentation emphasized community partnerships and hands-on, student-led learning as a way to ease grade transitions. The district said the step-up day will continue as a recurring tradition.