Sope Creek Celebrates Family Fun Night

Local dignitaries recently attended Sope Creek Elementary School Foundation’s “Family Fun Night” celebrating two of the school’s programs – the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Lab /STEM program and the Sunrise Program -- a morning cardio-intensive student workout that has been shown to promote student physical well-being and enhance academic performance.

Visitors included Georgia State Representative Sharon Cooper; Georgia State Representative Matt Dollar; Mr. Scott Sweeney, Member of the Cobb County Board of Education, and Dr. Doreen Griffith, Area Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Cobb County School District.

Guests joined parents, teachers and students to honor donors to the STEM Lab -- The Sope Creek Elementary School Foundation and the Engberg Family. The lab is a space where students and teachers can use “state-of-the art” educational tools to learn about science, technology, engineering and math.

Martha Whalen, Principal of Sope Creek Elementary, said, “These contributions are an investment that will increase enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math and help students pursue careers in those fields.”  The Engberg children are students at Sope Creek Elementary School, and the donation was made on behalf of Dr. Alan Engberg, their grandfather, who had a curiosity and passion for science throughout his lifetime.

The space is notable because it is the first STEM Lab in Cobb County for elementary-level students. STEM Lab teacher, Kerry Lance specially designed the STEM lab and its coursework around K-5 curriculum requirements.

Dollar and Cooper also presented Whalen and Coach Shawn Maloney with House Resolution 543 honoring Sope Creek Elementary School’s Sunrise Program.  Based on the clinical research of Harvard Medical School’s Dr. John Ratey, this exercise-driven initiative capitalizes on Ratey’s research findings that exercise kick-starts the brain, and makes it more ready to learn. 

Representative Dollar said, “The program’s correlation to academics is evident when you look at the data and talk with teachers. The most positive gains seem to be in math, science, and reading.”

Cooper shared that, “The remarkable advantage of the Sunrise Program is that it has a strong impact on student health and academics, yet doesn’t require additional school funding. A simple shift in the beginning 20 minutes of the school day enables the children to participate in “brain-starting exercise” – and they love to do it.” Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal has recognized the Sunrise Program as a “best practice” in the Governor’s SHAPE initiative.

Sweeney made the ceremony’s closing remarks and praised Sope Creek Elementary School’s leadership saying, “We are fortunate to have such an excellent team teaching our children to be healthy, intelligent citizens today, and productive adults tomorrow." Sweeney also shared with the audience that Principal Whalen had been selected by the Georgia PTA’s 9th District as the Outstanding Principal of the Year.

Following the ceremony, students released yellow and orange balloons in celebration of the “Sunrise Program” as attendees watched the Zumba program that is part of the “Sunrise Program” every morning.