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Monroe County School System's

MONROE MESSAGES
A Message from the Superintendent
 
The Monroe County Board of Education meets Tuesday, October 9 at 7 p.m. in the Central Office Board of Education Meeting Room. You'll find the agenda at https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/index.aspx?S=4117.
 
Monroe County Test Facts
An Update on SAT and AP Results
The SAT is a college entrance exam that is developed, administered and scored by the College Board. The SAT is designed to test the subject matter learned by students in high school and the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in college. The test has three sections - critical reading, mathematics and writing - each worth 800 points, for a highest possible score of 2400. 

Monroe County students scored an average of 1397 in the previous school year.  In Georgia, the average score was 1452, and the national average was 1498. 

 

Completing a core curriculum and pursuing rigorous course work are two critical components of college readiness, and the students who do so tend to perform better on the SAT. Georgia students who completed a core curriculum - defined as four or more years of English, three or more years of mathematics, three or more years of natural science and three or more years of social science and history - did better on the SAT than those who did not complete those classes.


Advanced Placement courses afford students the opportunity to experience college-level rigor in the high school setting, and with a high enough score on the course's associated examination, the student can possibly earn college credit for the course taken in high school.  In 2011-2012,  there were 303 (includes duplicates) Monroe County students who took AP courses in 2011-2012 school year.  Of those, 126 took the related AP course exams (does not include duplicates).  Of those students taking AP Exams, 42% scored at 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5).

 
 A Message from Monroe County Middle School
Thank you to Monroe ACE for 6th Grade Thesauri

 

Sixth grade students at the William Hubbard Campus of Monroe County Middle School were excited to receive thesauri today from Monroe County Adult and Community Education as part of the International Thesaurus Project. According to letters sent home with students, this project is "designed to aid sixth grade teachers in their goal to see all their students end the academic year as more precise writers, better communicators and creative thinkers." Each sixth grader at Monroe County Middle School was presented with a thesaurus to keep. Robins Federal Credit Union partnered with Monroe County ACE to provide this wonderful resource for our students.

    

In the inside cover of each thesaurus is a sticker with a space for each child to write his or name as well as their graduation year, 2019. Students were challenged by Dawn Freelin, executive director of MCACE, to look up the word persevere and discussed the meaning and how it relates to staying in school and graduating on time.

The sixth grade students and their teachers are thankful for this extremely important donation. Along with Dawn Freelin, MCACE members Jeff Thompson and Sharon and Truett Goodwin presented thesauri to the students.

 

A Message About Standards-Based Report Cards

The Monroe County School System has worked hard this past year to revise the Standards Based Reporting System (known as the "Report Card") in kindergarten through grade 3. This year will be the first year that the teachers in grade 3 have reported grades aligned more specifically to the standards in the content areas. There are new grading and reporting procedures for students in grades 1, 2, and 3 this year. Below are the keys that teachers use to evaluate student progress toward each quarter's expectations and the annual standards. Academic achievement is evaluated using a standards-based score: 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. Instead of receiving one grade per content area, you will receive a breakdown of your student's performance by standard which will enable you to identify more specifically the areas of academic strength and opportunities for improvement.

 

KEY TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND SPECIAL AREA PERFORMANCE

5

Exemplary

(96 to100)

 

4

Mastery

(90 to 95)

 

3

Consistent Achievement

(80 -89)

 

2

Progress is On-going

(70 - 79)

 

1

Progress is Limited or Minimal

0 to 69

 

N/A

Standard is Not Assessed at This Time

 

 

Foundational Reading Skills and writing skills are taught separately and are embedded in all subject areas. A student's performance in the area of reading and writing reflects the instructional level they are currently working on. Although the student may receive a score that indicates "exemplary," "mastery," or "consistent achievement," their reading level may be above or below their grade level. For this reason, the following scale is also included in the quarterly report:

 

KEY TO READING AND WRITING LEVELS

Above Grade Level

On Grade Level

Below Grade Level    

 

We believe in holding our students to high standards, not only in academics, but also for their personal conduct. Recognizing that successful students take initiative and have good work habits, these skills will be assessed throughout the year using the following scale:

 

KEY TO SPECIALS AND CITIZENSHIP 

 S  Meets or exceeds the standard

 N  Approaching the standard but needs improvement

 U  Does not meet the standard

 

To assist you with monitoring your child's progress, you will receive a list of academic standards ("Essentials") at the beginning of each 9 week period that your child will be expected to learn.  You may also access the Grading and Reporting Parent Resources on our website at www.monroe.k12.ga.us> your school's web site> Assessment > Grading and Reporting Parent Resources.  The Monroe County School System is committed to providing your child with a world class education by providing high standards for achievement and cultivating a genuine passion for learning. We are dedicated to providing "a commitment to excellence and a focus on success." We appreciate you and your partnership with your child's school. Together, we will work to ensure your child's success! 

A Message from TGScott Elementary School
Students and Staff welcomed Mario Harvey
Mario Harvey is a 2005 graduate of Mary Persons High School, he is a graduate of Marshall University, and this year, he joined the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts.  TGScott recently welcomed Mr. Harvey to share his experiences with students and staff.
Mr. Harvey talked with students in Mrs. Jan Gerdes class about his experiences growing up in Monroe County Schools with TGScott Elementary students who asked lots of questions about his childhood, his education, and his hard work to become a player in the NFL. 
 

A Message Highlighting Mrs. Virginia Wilcox 

Recently Named to the State School Superintendent's Advisory Council

Mrs. Virginia Wilcox

  Mrs. Virginia Wilcox has been making a difference in our schools for the past four years. She currently has children in both our elementary and middle schools. Mrs. Wilcox has a passion for education and promoting parent involvement in the academic setting. She advocates making learning fun and providing an environment that will engage both student and parent. She is passionate about education and freely giving of her talents and time to others.

Mrs. Wilcox is also extremely organized and has assisted with various projects at the school level. One example is her willingness to lead our PBIS store at the Monroe County Middle School. She interacted with students to determine what should be offered in the store, coordinated a master calendar with a group of parents that operated the store, and ensured the success of that project. She also shares her talents with the elementary school and has written and secured STEM grants for T. G. Scott Elementary School.

She has also been willing to volunteer in the classroom setting to assist individual learners in the Math curriculum.   Mrs. Wilcox has a heart to promote learning for ALL children in the classroom environment. She represented our system at the Parent Involvement Coordinators' Conference in Athens last February and is scheduled to be a presenter at the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in October.

Mrs. Virginia Wilcox has an ability to interact on many levels with students in the elementary and middle schools. She knows their names, promotes learning and is able to talk to them on a personal level. Mrs. Virginia Wilcox is an asset to the State School Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council. She is an involved parent with knowledge of our educational system at both the State and Local levels. 

 
A Message from Monroe County School System Counselors
Balancing Texting with Face-to-Face Communication

Texting among children has increased dramatically and has become such an important part of children's social lives that parents are concerned. Parents frequently know little about the content of the texts and with whom the child is texting. As a result many parents feel extraneous and that texting undermines their influence.

Parental apprehension occurs when children become seemingly addicted to texting and less involved in face-to-face communication. Also, excessive texting may lead to poor spelling habits, inability to concentrate, and incomplete school work. Children report that once they send a text message, they expect to receive a response right away, and if they do not, they often become anxious. Others report that they feel abandoned and unable to give attention elsewhere when they are not "connected." Texting can also create misunderstandings since the receiver cannot view the sender's facial expressions, body language, or hear the tone of his or her voice.

What can parents do to balance the use of cell phones and texting with their goal of raising responsible, well-adjusted children?

  1. Model limited use of technology. Sherry Turkle, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wrote, "Children have always competed for their parents' attention, but this generation has experienced something new. Previously, children had to deal with parents being off with work, friends, or each other. Today, children contend with parents who are physically close, tantalizingly so, yet mentally elsewhere." If parents want to influence their child's behavior and future success, they need to take time to listen and give undivided attention.
  2. Be aware of the variety of devices available.  iPods can have a free texting app added so that even a child without a cell phone can do unlimited text messaging.
  3. Decide which type of cell phone, if any, is appropriate for the age of your child.
  4. Control usage by purchasing plans with limited minutes for calling and texting, or by monitoring your child's access.
  5. Consider linking the privilege of phone usage with responsibilities like completing homework, chores, etc.
  6. Discuss the necessity of using caution when texting or sending photos since they are not private and may be shared with people your child does not know.
  7. Instill an awareness that sending hurtful or untrue messages can have serious consequences for both the sender and the child or children who are being discussed.
  8. Take time to express interest in your child's friends and in the messages he or she sends.
  9. Limit times and places where your child can use electronic devices since maintaining open parent-child communication is essential. Insist that your child refrain from texting during short car trips, during family dinners, when adults are speaking directly to him or her, etc.
  10. Encourage your child's interest and participation in various activities: athletics, drama, photography, art, crafts, sewing, playing a musical instrument, singing, dancing, reading, volunteering, etc.
  11. Provide quality family interaction time by eating together, taking walks, playing games, etc.
  12. Foster "technology free" times when your child can reflect on his or her life, feelings, friends, and identity.

 

Advancing technology can make it difficult to guide and raise children today, but with much listening, patience, love and a willingness to provide limits, children can grow into empathic, responsible, healthy adults. http://www.kellybear.com/ParentTips.html 

 

 
Discover GALILEO
Contest Through October
Galileo at http://galileo.usg.edu is sponsoring a contest through October. 

"Because we hope everyone will enjoy this new service and discover many new things,  we are sponsoring a contest throughout the month of October.  Please encourage everyone who uses GALILEO to tell us "What I Discovered Today" for a chance to win cool daily and weekly prizes to be drawn from entries.  You will see a link to the contest guidelines in the spotlight on the GALILEO homepage.   We will announce winners every Monday through the end of October.  You can enter as many times as you wish, but can only win one daily and one weekly drawing." From Lauren Fancher of GALILEO Services.

 

 
Open Enrollment for State Health Insurance
 for Employees Starts October 9

This year's State Health Insurance Open Enrollment, for changes effective calendar year 2013, will open Tuesday, Oct. 9 and will run through Friday, Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m..  This is the period of time that employees who are covered by State Health Insurance must visit the Open Enrollment Web Site to:

 

(1) make new elections in coverage

(2) confirm current dependents

(3) add or delete dependents for coverage

(4) Confirm member status in relation to previous year's Wellness plan

CIGNA and UnitedHealthcare will offer members the choice of either a Standard or Wellness Plan, with the following options:    

Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), or

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). 

Changes in Health Benefits for this year include:

  • Elimination of the Spousal Surcharge (tobacco surcharge continues);
  • Increased deductibles and co-insurance;
  • Increase in co-payments under the HMO Standard Plans
  • Change in HRA credits in Standard Plan
  • Increase in employee premiums
  • Elimination of the $125 HRA credit for annual physical and health assessment.

 All of these changes and other features of the Health Benefit Plan can be found at http://dch.georgia.gov/open-enrollment-2013.  This website includes links to all insurance companies, the 2013 Decision Guide document, information about PeachCare for Children, and other information to assist you.  There is also a video/audio presentation on this website calledActive employees/Early Retireeswhich provides a great deal of information.

The process is totally on-line through the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) portal. Employees can visit the portal anytime and as often as needed between Oct. 9 and Nov. 9, but the last election confirmed at the time the Open Enrollment period closes at 4:30 on Nov. 9 will be the employee's election for the 2013 Plan Year.

Persons needing assistance in accessing the website can receive it by calling the Business Services Office. Please review the email sent for specific rates.After doing your research on changes and options, and considering the rates as presented above, here is how you can make your 2013 Health Insurance Election:

 

* Access the Decision Guide  on line, review it carefully, and compare the plans and options available to you.

* Visit http://dch.georgia.gov/open-enrollment-2013 as often as you need to between Tuesday, Oct. 9 and Friday, Nov. 9;

* Verify dependents and add any eligible dependents under age 26;

* Click "Confirm" to finalize your election;

* Print or save your confirmation page;

* A confirmation number will show once the election is processed. Copy and keep this confirmation number;

* The last option, plan and tier you select prior to the end of Open Enrollment at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 will be your choice for the 2013 coverage year.

 During this fall Open Enrollment Period, employees may meet with benefit representatives to review and make changes in the following products:

 Short and Long Term Disability                             Vision

Long Term Care                                                   Cancer Policies

Dental                                                                 PrePaid Legal

Life Insurance                                                       Investments

Flexible Spending Accounts for dependent care & health care

Employees need to review the recent email for dates and times when benefits can be reviewed with Business Office personnel.

 

 
Georgia Civics Day Initiative Promotes Voting 

The purpose of Georgia Civics Day is to make students aware of their civic duties and the importance of voting. The 2012 Georgia Civics Day website will be accessible from October 4th through October 31st and can be found at: http://www.sos.ga.gov/ivote.

The 2012 Georgia Civics Day website includes:

  • The Georgia Civics Day Quiz and Certificate of Participation (including an online voter registration application for students 17 ½ years of age and older and a poll worker information tool)
  • The Georgia Civics Day Quiz and Getting to Know Georgia Quiz
  • Elected official contact information and other resources
A Message from Monroe County School System Nurses
The Facts of Lice Part II

How do I know if I have lice?

  • Intense itching of the scalp and tiny white specks (eggs/nits) on the hair close to the scalp that are hard to   remove.
  • Look closely at the person's head under a bright light. Full sun or the brightest lights in your home works best.
  • Lice on the scalp and clothing may be difficult to see, unless the infestation is heavy. If you see something moving, it is probably a louse.
  • Lice prefer clean loose hair, it is easier for them to move about and attach their eggs. You can pick up lice in any setting - movie theaters, baseball helmets, church, friends house etc. Lice do not fly or jump, they only
     crawl.                                                                                                                                                          
  •  Treatment is recommended if even one egg is found.
  • Over the Counter lice treatments, such as Nix® and Rid® will kill lice, but not necessary the contents of the nits. Because they are pesticides, it is important to not overuse them and follow the directions exactly as printed with each product.  
  • Other treatments that may be helpful for removing lice are mayonnaise and oil (vegetable, olive or mineral). However several parents have commented that there children were never able to eat anything with mayonnaise again after wearing it on there head for over 4 hours.
  • Lice can live for 4 hours without air; therefore, when applying mayonnaise or oil, be sure to leave the treatment on for at least 4 hours.      
  • Regardless of the treatment; the key to prevent reoccurrence of lice is to kill the lice and remove the eggs (nits). Thorough combing and individual "nit picking" is absolutely necessary in order to prevent reoccurrence of the lice.  
  • You may continue to find and remove nits for days after treatment. However, if you find live lice or new nits close to the scalp after treatment, then it is likely that you did not thoroughly remove the nits and additional treatment will be needed.

 

What does the school do about head lice?

  • A student should not miss more than one to two days from school because of head lice.
  • Students are allowed to return to school after treatment and clearance from the school nurse.   The Nits (eggs) need to be removed; however, only live lice will exclude the student from attending school.
  • Students that have had lice will be checked weekly until at least 4 consecutive checks show no evidence of head lice. Empty nits are acceptable.
  • As a preventative measure, classmates, bus mates and siblings of the identified student may also be checked.  
  • The School nurse is always available to work with the parent in anyway necessary to help with this frustrating condition. The school social worker and the Heath department are also available for assistance with stubborn infestations.
  • If live lice are found on a student's head, they are not allowed to stay at school or ride the bus until they have received treatment and been cleared by the nurse.