Students and teachers showcase Engage civic chapter plan and chorus program experience

At the start of the meeting the board heard two school presentations: a Burke County High student explained plans to establish a chapter of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement (GCCE) at the high school, and Burke County High chorus students and their director described recent travel, recording and performance activities.

Carlos Burnett, a Burke County High student, described GCCE Engage as a program that helps students learn civic responsibility and government-related careers through activities such as Model UN, youth assembly, career expos and mock elections. “Every high school student should be afforded the opportunity to have these types of experiences,” Burnett told the board, saying the state-capital visit and simulated legislative debates taught him how bills move through committees.

Rebecca Croce, the chorus director at Burke County High School, brought student speakers who described a Disney World visit and a Fox Theatre trip, described a studio recording session led by industry professionals and explained extracurricular opportunities such as All-State and district honor choirs. One student described traveling to Disney World and participating in an on-site recording session where students supplied sound effects and recorded segments that were later incorporated into a short film presentation.

The board thanked the students and staff for the presentations and for raising funds to cover travel costs; a board member noted two students had raised money for the choir’s Disney trip.

Why this matters: Student-run civic and arts programs provide extracurricular learning and college-application experiences; the presentations requested continued board support for such programs.

What’s next: Board members encouraged students and staff to share their experiences with peers and district audiences; no formal action was required on the presentations.