Ball Ground Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, opened in its new home and as one of four STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Academies to launch in the Cherokee County School District this school year. Students in Grades K-6 participated in STEM activities including design challenges and discovery activities such as building paper towers and cup pyramids. ‘We had an absolute blast today,’ Principal Doug Knott said. ‘The students, faculty and staff did an outstanding job with today’s STEM Discoveries and Explorations. We can’t wait until tomorrow!’ Students including, from left to right, Jacob Reed, Jake Locke and Joseph Chester, build a tower together during a STEM challenge.