Monroe Messages
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Parent Survey
The Annual Title I Parent Survey is available at a link for each elementary and middle school website.  The survey is available through May 25, and can also be accessed here.

 

 

 

Staff Survey

The Employee Survey is open through post-planning.  Look for an email that provides the link to the survey.

 

 

Graduate with Perfect Attendance for Her Entire Academic Career

Courtney Shelley Perfect Attendance Graduate
Congratulations to all 2012 graduates including Courtney Shelley who graduates on Friday, May 25 with the distinct recognition of perfect attendance for her entire academic career.

 

 

 

Baccalaureate 

The Baccalaureate Service is at Forsyth United Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 24th.  It is sponsored by the Monroe County Ministerial Association.

 

 

 

Elementary Honors Chorus Concert

The Elementary Honors Chorus will hold its end of the year concert on Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m. at the Board of Education Auditorium.

 

 

 

 

Teachers, Please check your email for important messages about technology.

mcbook
In addition to returning your Macbook for the summer, instructions are also provided to save data, clean out your email account, and secure technology hardware in your classroom.

 

 

 

MPHS Summer School Registration

For information on MPHS Summer School, click here.  Registration ends May 23.

 

 

 

Monroe Middle School Pre-AP Program 

Click here for Monroe County Middle School's Pre-AP Program information. 
Through this program, qualified students will participate in coursework that may lead to high school credit while still in the middle school setting. 

 

 

 

Reminder for Employees:  Wellness Promises need to be completed by June 30

State Health Benefit Plan began offering Wellness Plans effective January 1, 2012. Under these Plans, the SHBP member receives lower out-of-pocket costs and lower premiums.

 

The Wellness Plan Options are designed to help members (and covered spouses) become active participants in improving their health. Members who enroll in one of the Wellness Plan Options (Wellness HRA, Wellness HMO, Wellness HDHP) agree to the terms and conditions of the Wellness Promise.

 

To keep the 2012 Wellness Promise, two steps must be taken by June 30, 2012:

Complete your health care plan administrator's online Health Assessment at www.mycigna.com or www.myuhc.com.

Obtain a biometric screening that includes blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and glucose measures.

 

 

Summer School for Grades 3-8

For more information on Summer School for Grades 3-8, please contact your child's school.

Location- Monroe County Middle School (Mon-Thurs: Banks Stephens Campus from 8:00-3:00 each day)

Get Into Energy (GIE)  Camp- June 4th-June 8th (June 8th will be held at Plant Scherer).  This camp is for rising eighth graders.

Summer School- June 4th-June 7th (CRCT Retest for 3, 5, and 8 on Monday, June 11th and Tuesday, June 12th- make-ups on June 13th and June 14th)
A Message from the Superintendent...
The Monroe County Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, May 22nd at 6:30 p.m. For an agenda of the meeting, click here.
Congratulations, Graduates!
MPHS Graduation Set for Friday, May 25 at 8 p.m. 
Mary Persons High School Graduation exercises will be held at Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field, weather permitting, May 25, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.
Jordan Whitehead, Valedictorian
Jordan Whitehead,
Valedictorian
Courtney DeRieux, Salutatorian
Courtney DeRieux, Salutatorian

The school administration asks that all guests attending the graduation be aware of the following items and keep them in mind as they plan their attendance and arrival:

Parking will be minimally supervised.  Parents and guests are to park in the Monroe County Board of Education parking lot or on the north side of the stadium.  Since traffic will likely be congested, guests are urged to arrive early to allow time to park and walk the distance to be seated on the home side of the stadium.

All guests should honor our graduates and preserve the dignity and decorum of the occasion by wearing appropriate dress clothes and exhibiting formal behavior.

 In order that the name of each graduate be heard during the ceremony, we ask that you hold your applause and cheers until all the students on a given row have returned to their seats. When the entire row of students is back in place, we will pause and give the audience time to cheer and applaud for the graduates on that row.

Guests should be in their seats by 7:50 p.m.

The graduation program will be long and formal.  The stadium is not comfortable for a lengthy period of time.  For these reasons, we ask that parents and other guests not bring infants and small children.

Cameras are not allowed on the field during the ceremonies.  Mr. Pack and Mr. Finch will be available for pictures with the graduates upon request AFTER the ceremony.

Should inclement weather interfere with these plans, the ceremony may be changed to Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. Signs will be posted on the stadium gates if graduation exercises are changed.  If it is still raining on Saturday morning, the ceremony will be changed to Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  This will allow all family members and friends to witness this memorable occasion.

A Message from Monroe County School Nurses...
Nutrition Matters -- Even in the Summer Months

Overall nutrition is crucial to children's health. Breakfast gets them to lunch, lunch gets them home, and dinner nourishes them overnight. Having a good dinner in the evening isn't enough; kids need to make wise food choices throughout the day!
Practice what you preach when it comes to nutrition. Here are some ways to be mindful of what you eat as a family:

  • Shop for groceries together. Read food labels for nutritional content, and choose foods that are low in sugar and fat.
  • Discuss the school lunch menu with your child in advance to help him or her make wise food choices. Or, if your child takes a lunch from home, have him or her help pack a healthy one.
  • Allow your kids to cook with you, and let them help plan the week's meals.
  • Slowly introduce some new wholesome foods.
  • Dine together as a family as often as possible. Remember, the car is not the dinner table; refrain from eating there as it encourages eating fast food on the run.
  • Stock your home with low-sugar foods and rid the pantry of refined sugar, i.e., processed white sugar found, for example, in many boxed snacks and cereals.
  • Avoid fast-food restaurants by planning your meals and snacks before leaving home. Be prepared for meal-time changes and food substitutions if necessary.
  • Do not give food as a reward.
  • Parents should also be aware of their own dieting endeavors and how they affect their children's perception of health. Fad diets, for example, that cut out an entire food group or a substantial amount of calories in order to achieve weight loss are neither balanced nor healthy. When a parent embarks on such a diet, a child is led to believe it is okay to eat only one meal a day or to live entirely on grapefruit! As parents, you need to dispel the myths surrounding the latest fad diet and be an example to your child.
     

From National PTA Website  http://www.pta.org/topic_helping_families_make_wise_food_choices.asp 

MPHS Business and Computer Science Program Achieves Industry Certification Recognition
The Business and Computer Science Program teachers are (left) Cindi Holly, Marcy Sanders, and Rosalyn Sparks.
The Mary Persons High School Business and Computer Science Program Area recently successfully completed its five-year Industry Recertification.  When a program becomes industry certified, it receives a "stamp of excellence", which represents the height of program quality. Only those programs that have successfully undergone rigorous reviews by leaders from business and industry are recognized with this distinction. Industry certified programs not only offer outstanding opportunities to students who receive instruction through such programs; but they also offer positive benefits for the school and the community.
Summer Rainy Day Resources
The school year is coming to a close and summer is coming quickly. If you're looking for some activities to keep restless students engaged in learning or if you're looking for activities to send home with students so that parents have something fun and educational for students on a rainy day, GALILEO has lots to offer.

 

Please remember that the GALILEO password for your school changed on May 17, so students will need the new password to access GALILEO over the summer.

 

Elementary Students 

PreK- 2nd grade students can find videos from around the world and reading and drawing activities.

Britannica Elementary Watch videos, investigate animals, and read about famous people. Search for a topic and check The Web's Best Sites section on the right of the article to find websites to explore. Find games and fun activities in the Learning Materials.

SIRS Discoverer Click Activities on the right of the screen to find art and science projects, games, puzzles, and more. Click Discoverer WebFind Selected Websites for further exploration.

Book Collection: Nonfiction Read about famous people, pets, pirates, dinosaurs, and more.

Magazines A-Z Parents can help students find magazines with activities, stories, and other items, such as Highlights for Children, Humpty Dumpty's Magazine, Jack & Jill, National Geographic Kids, Ranger Rick, Spider, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and Time for Kids.

NoveList K-8 For the kids that love to read, parents can find Grab and Go Book Lists to help their children pick out books during the next trip to the public library.

 

Middle School Students 

Compton's by Britannica Investigate important people and big events, keep up with the news, and watch videos. Search for a topic and check The Web's Best Sites section on the right of the article to find websites to explore. Find interesting science activities in Learning Materials.

SIRS Discoverer Click Activities on the right of the screen to find art and science projects, games, puzzles, and more. Click Discoverer WebFind Selected Websites for further exploration.

Book Collection: Nonfiction Read about celebrities, cars, sports, hobbies, and more.

Magazines A-Z Find magazines in GALILEO, such as Boys' Life, Calliope, Cobblestone, Girls' Life, and Stone Soup.

NoveList K-8 Find more books like a favorite that's already been read. Just search for a favorite book, click the title to see the book information, and then click Find Similar Books. Take the list on the next trip to the public library.

 

High School Students 

Encyclopaedia Britannica High School Read biographies and learn about historical events, keep up with the news, read the Britannica Blog, and watch videos. Search for a topic and check The Web's Best Sites section on the right of the article to find websites to explore. Find interesting science activities in Learning Materials.

SIRS Issues Researcher Keep up with news and hot topics.

Book Collection: Nonfiction Read about celebrities, cars, sports, hobbies, and more.

Magazines A-Z GALILEO includes several magazines for teens, including American Cheerleader, BMX Plus, Dance Spirit, Discover, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Teen People, and Transworld Skateboarding.

NoveList Find more books like a favorite that's already been read. Just search for a favorite book, click the title to see the book information, and then click Find Similar Books. Take the list on the next trip to the public library.

A Message from Counselors... 20 Ways to Foster Values

What are values and why do we need them?
They are cherished beliefs and standards for right and wrong. They provide direction and meaning to life. Values inspire constructive behavior.
How can you instill values in your child?

Read and discuss stories that support your beliefs.

Monitor your child's media exposure that can undermine parental influence and the development of moral standards for behavior.

Share your approval when praiseworthy behavior is portrayed in the media and/or in real life, and discuss your displeasure when corrupt behavior is displayed.

Comment on your child's admirable conduct. For example, "Johnny, you were being dependable when you fed the dog without being reminded." "When you helped Mrs. Jones pick up sticks in her yard, you were doing a good deed and showing her you cared."

Name your own commendable actions. For example, "I was honest when I told the clerk she had given me too much change." "I recycle items because we need to do our part to protect the environment."

Be polite and considerate toward others.

Do what you say you will do.

Share your time, talents and possessions.

Set goals and complete difficult tasks.

Display warmth, support, encouragement, and consistency toward your child.

Set high but reasonable standards for your child's behavior.

Listen respectfully to your child's ideas and feelings.

Answer your child's questions.

Offer your child choices.

Take time to have fun with your child. For example, play games, read, pretend, look at family photos, share dreams, attend events, participate in sports or hobbies, or volunteer for worthy causes. 

Agree on family rules and live by them. For example, the television is off during family meals; we are kind to each other; we do not use profanity.

Divide chores and work together on family projects.

Participate in religious activities and/or be faithful to religious or moral beliefs. 

Consider how your family spends its time and money by asking yourself, "In my child's eyes, what does my family value most?"

Remember that your child will adopt the values you demonstrate daily.

Used by permission of the author, Leah Davies, and selected from the Kelly Bear website.

The Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas.

Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX  Dr. Mike Hickman 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031  

Student and Athletic Title IX  Tommie Walker 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031  

Student 504 Lisa Allred  433 Highway 41 South, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031

Any employee, student, applicant for employment, parent or other person who believes he or she has been discriminated against or harassed in violation of the above areas must make a complaint in accordance with the procedures outlined in Board Policy GAAA.