Jeff Bennett

The main purpose of the Olweus method, according to Jeff Bennett, a counselor at Etowah High School in Woodstock, is to empower bystanders and not to focus on the bully.

"Students can take the power away from the bully by focusing on helping the victim," he said.

Etowah High's Character in Action student organization, which focuses on helping youth build character, recently performed an antibullying skit based on the Olweus program at Boston Elementary.

"It was neat to watch the elementary students open up about bullying to the high school students," Bennett said.
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The success of the Olweus program, according to Bennett, can be attributed to students taking an active role in preventing bullying.

"Students are teaching one another about bullying," he said.

As part of Boston Elementary School's focus on reading, they have partnered with Etowah High School's Character In Action (CIA) group led by counselor Jeff Bennett.Pairs of Etowah High School CIA members have "adopted" each second-grade class at Boston.

Etowah High counselor Jeff Bennett said he thinks more students took the ACT because they decided the exam was a better fit for them.He said the school is putting more of an emphasis on the ACT exam since it is similar to the end-of-course tests and the Georgia High School Graduation Test.

"Our numbers have been increasing every year as we do a better job of allowing those students to know about it," he said.
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Bennett said while both exams are accepted by most colleges nationwide, the exams are different.

"The SAT is very much a critical thinking test," said Bennett."The ACT is more knowledge-based and centralized on what we already do.It's based on English, science, math and reading reasoning."

Bennett said both exams would be adding writing components in the spring.While the SAT writing component will be required, the ACT writing component will be optional.Analogies will not be a part of the new SAT format.

Bennett said juniors should not take the SAT until the spring because most colleges would be looking for how well they score on the new SAT.He said seniors should take the current SAT this fall because they have been preparing for it with the current PSAT.

"If they wait till the spring, it'll be a completely different test," he said.

For the first time this year 10th-graders at Etowah High will take the practice ACT exam.Bennett said students also will take the PSAT to help them decide which test is best for them.All ninth-, 10th- and 11th-graders in the district will take the PSAT in October.

"The PSAT is a very accurate prediction of how well they are going to do on the SAT," he said."Students, both juniors and seniors, truly need to work with their guidance counselors with reviewing their PSAT scores."

Bennett said if students don't do well on the PSAT, it doesn't mean they aren't college material.

"It is saying the structure of the test may not meet the learning style of that child," he said.

Bennett said he suggests students take either the SAT or ACT, but not both.

"It's hard to prepare for them because they are two different tests and they are testing different aspects," he said.

Cox said he suggests students try taking both exams.

"Most schools will take whichever score is better and whichever score makes you more qualified," he said.

Etowah High School's homecoming parade, pep rally and bonfire scheduled for today have been canceled, according to Etowah High counselor Jeff Bennett.The homecoming court festivities at Friday's football game and the dance in the school gym on Saturday were not changed.

"At this time all the activities for Friday and Saturday are a go," he said, adding if bad weather occurs, the homecoming court festivities would be postponed to the Oct. 1 football game and the dance would be rescheduled for Oct. 2.

Jeff Bennett
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August's Pathfinder is Jeff Bennett.Jeff is the Student Counselor for Etowah High School's Class of 2004.A normal day for Jeff begins when he gets to school at 5:30 a.m. to meet with several different clubs, including the Student Advisory Board, the Student Ambassador team leaders, and the Leadership teams."Our students are great, we have a mutual respect for each other, the parents have done a great job with these kids," Jeff says.

Jeff is a native of Cherokee County and has been a counselor at Etowah for over six years.He attended Cherokee High School, Kennesaw State University and Jacksonville State University in Alabama.Following the advice of several individuals, Jeff is now pursuing an Education Leadership Doctorate which keeps him busy.His students see him struggle with some of the same issues they have - some good teachers, some not so good, loads of homework, juggling his workload at Etowah and school.

Jeff announces all the varsity girl's soccer games, home basketball games and home track meets.The students have called him "The Voice of the Eagles."He takes time in the summer to go with the leadership students on trips, attending workshops and working with the students on leadership programs.Jeff is one of the founders of the Cherokee Theater Company, founded in 1989.He is also the Education Coordinator for the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity, and recently stepped down after six years as District Governor.Jeff says his involvement in 4-H during his younger years helped him develop his personality and leadership skills.The Boy Scouts also are on the receiving end of Jeff's commitment to helping kids grow into great leaders.He teaches citizenship merit badges and helps to train Scouts to become Eagle Scouts.

Jeff lives in the northern part of Cherokee County.His "pets" consist of a couple possums, a raccoon or two and some giant ground hogs.

Jeff, for all you do to make this community a better place to live, we thank you!

August 2002 - Jeff Bennett, Student Counselor for Etowah High School and one of the founders of the Cherokee Theater Company.

Jeffrey Bennett2nd. Counselor