Twenty-eight Henry County Schools Receive John Hancock Awards

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Twenty-eight schools in Henry County Schools (HCS) received the Georgia Department of Education’s John Hancock Award for proficiency in cursive writing during Constitution Week, observed Sept. 17-23.

Cursive writing is included in Georgia’s English language arts standards. Teaching cursive develops fine motor skills, strengthens spelling and writing fluency, supports memory and cognitive development, and helps students develop distinctive personal signatures.

“I commend our schools for their commitment to teaching the valuable skill of cursive,” Henry County Schools Superintendent Dr. John Pace III said. “Celebrating handwriting supports literacy, the bedrock of a successful education. Congratulations to our students, teachers, and leaders for their John Hancock Awards.”

Schools where at least 90% of students can write their names in cursive earn the John Hancock Banner and Proficiency Ribbon.

Twenty HCS schools earned that honor:

• Bethlehem Elementary School
• Birch Creek Elementary School
• Cotton Indian Elementary School
• Dutchtown Elementary School
• Eagle’s Landing High School
• Eagle’s Landing Middle School
• Flippen Elementary School
• Hampton Elementary School
• Hampton Middle School
• Mt. Carmel Elementary School
• New Hope Elementary School
• Pate’s Creek Elementary School
• Pleasant Grove Elementary School
• Rock Spring Elementary School
• Stockbridge Elementary School
• Stockbridge Middle School
• Timber Ridge Elementary School
• Union Grove High School
• Unity Grove Elementary School
• Woodland Elementary School

Schools where at least 90% of students can write their names and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in cursive earn the John Hancock Banner and Ribbon of Distinction.

Eight HCS schools earned that honor:

• East Lake Elementary School
• Fairview Elementary School
• Locust Grove Elementary School
• Locust Grove High School
• Luella Elementary School
• Ola Middle School
• Red Oak Elementary School
• Union Grove Middle School

To demonstrate proficiency, schools submit samples of students’ cursive writing and attest that at least 90% of their students meet the requirements for the recognition level they seek.

Statewide, 323 schools received the John Hancock Banner and Ribbon of Distinction, while 307 received the John Hancock Banner and Proficiency Ribbon.

“Cursive writing is about much more than penmanship — it supports the development of skills students use throughout their learning,” said Dr. April Aldridge, Georgia Department of Education Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. “It also gives students the ability to encounter documents like the U.S. Constitution as they were originally written, creating a tangible connection between literacy, history, and civic understanding. We are proud of the Georgia educators who continue to provide students with these important learning opportunities.”

To celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the United States, the Georgia Department of Education will also distribute commemorative pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution to fourth grade students during Constitution Week. A digital version is available to download.

“Constitution Week allows our students to engage directly with the words, ideas, and principles that shape our nation,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Through the John Hancock Award, the distribution of pocket Constitutions, and the thoughtful celebrations taking place in schools and communities, we are helping students understand that our founding documents are not simply pieces of history — they remain central to our identity as Americans. I am proud of the schools and educators bringing that history to life for Georgia students.”