When you think back on doing group work when you were in school, you may have conflicting memories. Some people may remember a time where they worked in a group on a project and had to pull most of the weight. You may even recall a time where you were paired with a student, or group of students, that you didn't have a strong connection with, only to make those connections along they way and ultimately succeed. 

Can you believe we are already a few weeks into 2023? Well, with the arrival of the new year, we've got some incredible things on the horizon that you don't want to miss! 

With the Holiday season approaching, along with a much-needed break, students, teachers, and faculty are all looking forward to different things: enjoying time spent with the family, getting some much-needed rest, and much more. Oftentimes, we forget that by the time the holiday break ends, and everyone makes their return to school, that we are in a new year! 

As 2022 comes to a close, we are so thankful to look back on another successful and amazing year supporting the students and staff of the Cherokee County School District by promoting teaching, learning, and celebrating achievements. Through so many of our wonderful programs, fundraisers, sponsors, donors, and volunteers, CCEF is able to continue making an impact. 

The Cherokee County Educational Foundation is proud to announce that Impact Grants are back for the 2022-2023 school year! Applications are currently open for submissions, and CCEF will be accepting applications until the deadline, January 31st, 2023.

There's no time like November to get into a thankful spirit, and showing your gratitude is a fantastic way to increase feelings like joy and optimism across everyone, from teachers and students to faculty, staff and parents. For the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, what we are most thankful for is everyone who supports our mission: supporting the students and staff of the Cherokee County School District; from our sponsors, contributors, board members, volunteers and everyone in-between – thank you! 

Earlier this month, the Cherokee County Educational Foundation held another round of their annual fall classic events. This year, the fall classic took place on October 10th, 2022, at the Bridgemill Athletic Club, and included golf, tennis, and, for the first time – pickleball. Our participants enjoyed a wonderful fall morning, receiving catered breakfast and lunch and a gift bag from our wonderful sponsors. 

Each year, the Cherokee County Educational Foundation holds a T-shirt campaign to continue to encourage support, donations, and awareness for the students and staff all over the Cherokee County School District. In the past, we have invited our supporters to submit photos of themselves in their CCEF shirts and hoodies during their summer travels, but over the years the contest has turned into a great way to show off CCEF gear on the road, at home, and everywhere in between! 

Nonprofit organizations play a huge part in impacting your local community, and supporting the ones you care about is a great way to give back. At the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, we're all about supporting our students and staff of the CCSD, promoting teaching, learning, and celebrating their achievements.

We are excited to announce that CCEF's fall classics are returning in October! That's right, CCEF will be hosting their annual Golf Classic, along with a great new addition, the Tennis and Pickleball Classic. These two amazing events play a big part in funding our Rapid Grant and Impact Grant programs here at the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, and we are looking forward to a great day of competition!

Going back to school is always a busy time for everyone in Cherokee County. Whether you're still tracking down couple school supplies, working to get your classroom ready, or just readjusting to the hustle-and-bustle routine, we know this time of year can get a little hectic.

Starting off another school year often comes with some amount of stress. No matter how prepared we can be, the unexpected always comes up – from last minute schedule changes, to printer jams, to tracking down those last few supplies.

We hope your Summer has been full of relaxation, fun memories, and so much more. The school year has ended, graduation commenced, and with the summer break nearing its end, we wanted to take a look back on another great year with CCEF.

Throughout the school year our incredible Cherokee County students, teachers, faculty, and staff all worked together to put another great school in the books. Let's take a look back at this past school year as we anticipate another great year to come!

With the 2022-2023 school year coming right around the corner, that also means that another Chick-Fil-A Moo've It 5K is upon us! This year's race will be the 9th annual 5K, happening on August 13th, 2022, and we are so excited to see everyone there and in person again this year.

Over the years, the Moo've It 5K has donated over $200,000 to the Cherokee County Education Foundation and the Cherokee County Special Olympics, making things such as the Impact Grants and Rapid Grants possible for our wonderful teachers and staff all over Cherokee County.

Each year Impact Grants help teachers in Cherokee County by awarding up to $2,500 per classroom for those who are selected. In the past, Impact Grant recipients have been able to fund innovative projects in their classrooms and provide needed supplies for their students. We are very excited to continue highlighting some of the amazing things being done by this year's grant recipients, Angela Topper and Jim Elder

Each year Impact Grants help teachers in Cherokee County by awarding up to $2,500 per classroom for those who are selected. In the past, Impact Grant recipients have been able to fund innovative projects in their classrooms and provide needed supplies for their students. We are very excited to highlight some of the amazing things being done by this year's grant recipients, Jennifer Campbell and Adrienne Fagan.

Cherokee County not only has some of the best schools in the state, but we also are fortunate enough to have some awesome alumni that tirelessly give back to their community. Every year we take a moment to acknowledge some that go above and beyond, and this year two stood out. We are so excited to congratulate Misti Martin and Judge Tony Baker as the 2022 Cherokee County Alumni of the Year.

The end of the year is here! Now is the time to get your room ready for those summer deep-cleans and also prep for next year, or maybe you're retiring and now you have years of supplies collected. It's the perfect time to go through your class supplies and clean out those items that maybe haven't been used in a while (even though we know you might use them next year 😉). Here are some ideas of what to do with any unwanted items. 

Cherokee County Educational Foundation's dedication to funding different programs and initiatives in the Cherokee County School District spans across many different programs, ideas, and functions. A huge part of our mission is our promise of transparency in what we fund with your donations and how your support sends ripples across the community.

More than likely, we have all experienced that "running around like a chicken with our head cut off" feeling on more than one occasion. If you are a teacher, that feeling is one we are certain you know all too well. Especially this time of year, with Spring break just behind us and Summertime looming on the horizon, students and teachers alike can start to feel more restless than usual.