By Rebecca Tyra
On November 14th, the Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett presented school administrators from North Gwinnett High School with a miniature Kiwanis Bell in honor of the school’s academic achievements.
For the past several years, North Gwinnett High School has consistently achieved exceptional results in academic excellence with a focus on a STEM curriculum. The school’s accountability report indicates that in 2016, NGHS rated 97.9 out of 100 on the State of Georgia’s College and Career Ready Performance Index. In fact, NGHS is one of the top ten high schools in the state of Georgia, where 77 percent of students participate in AP classes and 96 percent of them graduate. SAT and ACT scores at the school are also significantly higher than the national averages.
North Gwinnett High School promotes leadership as well as academic excellence. There are several leadership programs at the school, and all are written, planned and led by students. The school’s website states that ‘Leadership at all levels is the cornerstone of North Gwinnett’s Culture.’
Nathan Ballantine, who was among those honored at the recent Kiwanis meeting, is the principal of NGHS. Mr. Ballantine is a career educator who earned a bachelor’s degree in science with a major in chemistry from James Madison University in 1998. He began his career at Norcross High School as a science teacher in 2000. After earning his master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Georgia State University in 2004, he transitioned into the position of Assistant Principal at Norcross High School. He served in that role for eight years before taking over leadership of NGHS in 2013.
The Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett sponsors and mentors the Key Club at North Gwinnett High School. Throughout the year, Kiwanis members raise fund through various projects such as the annual Father-Daughter Valentine Dance, the Vidalia Onion Sale & Fun Run, and a golf tournament. Monies raised from these projects are returned locally toward the support of the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, North Gwinnett Co-Op and several other charitable organizations. The KCNG offers several scholarships for local high school seniors each year and sponsors an annual Youth Art Contest.
The KCNG holds its meetings every Tuesday in the far ballroom on the top floor of the Buford Community Center from 12:00–1:00 p.m.
The public is invited to attend any meeting as a guest to learn more about how to get involved with one of the largest growing service organizations in the area. For a list of local businesses that are involved in Kiwanis, please visit the membership directory page of the NGKC’s website.
