Gwinnett Daily Post

The Junior Beta Club at Sweetwater Middle School recently raised $2,000 to buy a defibrillator for the school.

Gwinnett County recommends each school have a defibrillator, but each school must provide funds for the lifesaving units.

In addition, 16 club members and 10 staff members in January became certified in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED.

The club learned about CPR and the AED in October, when Lt. Thomas Rutledge of the Gwinnett County Fire Department demonstrated the use of each. That meeting kicked off the fundraiser that raised money for the device.

Simpson Elementary PTA donates items to co-op

The Simpson Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association's "Helping Hands" committee recently held its "Souper Bowl" canned food drive.

School families donated canned goods and car seats to Norcross Cooperative Ministries. Fourth-grade students helped deliver the items and sorted donations at the co-op.

The Helping Hands committee, led by Tricia Smith and Elizabeth Gross, is active year round to identify community needs. The committee engages students and their families by providing education and opportunities for the school to support the needs of the surrounding area.

In the fall and winter, the committee also collected canned food and gently used coats for the Norcross Co-Op and collected toys during the annual December Toy Drive.

Duluth Winter Guard places first in competition

The Duluth High School Winter Guard, an extension of the marching band, recently competed at Kennesaw Mountain High and won first place.

The Winter Guard will move up to the next level of competition, which takes place March 10-11 at Forsyth Central High in Cumming.

Work of Gwinnett student artists displayed

The work of 13 Gwinnett County student artists and photographers was selected for the Visual Vibes exhibit at the Dogwood Festival.

The Dogwood Festival has featured the High School Art Exhibit in Piedmont Park during the Arts Festival of Atlanta for more than 25 years.

Heather Darenberg is the education reporter for the Gwinnett Daily Post. Good News From Schools appears in the Sunday edition of the Post.