Clayton County honors 30 schools with 39 school-nutrition awards; students and staff also recognized

At the start of the Sept. 3 board meeting, Clayton County Public Schools recognized 30 schools that together earned 39 awards from the Georgia School Nutrition Association for improvements and consistently high participation in student breakfast and lunch programs.

Audrey Hamilton, executive director of school nutrition, and members of her leadership team joined the board and invited cafeteria managers forward for recognition. Hamilton said the awards included categories for a 3% increase in school breakfast participation, consistently high breakfast participation, a 3% increase in school lunch participation, and consistently high lunch participation.

Hamilton reported that 15 elementary school programs, seven middle school programs and eight high school programs were honored. She singled out MD Roberts Middle School of the Arts (led by Kwanzita Marshall) and Riverdale High School (led by Angela Christopher) as programs that each earned recognition in three categories. Five other schools were honored in two categories, including Arnold Elementary (Annie Holmes), Callaway Elementary (Shamika McGee), Mondays Mill Middle School (Latonya Watch), Northcutt Elementary (Chikayla Deandrea Hassan), and Rivers Edge Elementary (Takara Avery).

Separately, the board announced continuation of the district’s “You’ve Been Noticed” recognition program. Two students each received $100 gift cards from a new partner, Rees Automotive; the meeting named Julius Judah Whaley as one of the student recipients. Monthly employee award recipients will receive $500 checks; board members drew names and congratulated the winners.

Board chair Ben Stryker and Superintendent Anthony Smith led the recognitions and asked honorees to come forward for a group photograph.