Today around noon we learned Griffin High School student Michael Hollis had passed away at Spalding Regional Hospital. Michael had just performed with the GHS drum line at Orrs Elementary School as part of its character day celebration when he became ill.

This hurts. I was present at Orrs Elementary today and saw Michael's last band performance. I knew him when he was young, and I am very proud of what he has been able to accomplish.

The family asks that they not be contacted by phone at this time as they begin to accept this reality. Counseling staff are with GHS students and employees. 

Please join me as my prayers and thoughts go to his mom Vanessa and his family.

Many find it popular sport to trash public education - they have opinions about what is wrong with public schools. I think this idea of one silver bullet to improve public education is a dream.

To be quite honest, I'm not waiting for Superman. What will change public education is going to be the public and the continuation of the things we are already doing.

All of these must come together which will lead to a new way of educating students:

• Standards-based instruction
• Teacher effectiveness
• The effects schools have on individual students
• Technology

And the people who will know it first will be those of you in the classrooms.

I am proud of where the Griffin-Spalding County School System is in this process. 

• We are continuing with our standards-based instruction.
• We are going through a study year of class keys.
• We will begin a study year of leader keys so administrators and teachers will be better aligned.
• We are looking at the new core standards which will be rolled out and we believe they are very aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards.

I believe all of this is going to lead to improved student achievement. I know it seems like a lot of change and constant turn over - but have faith. Georgia and Griffin-Spalding County School System are doing the right things.

Yesterday I met with the student advisory council and we talked about some of these issues. Those middle and high school students are very much aware of what's going on.

I have two points from that meeting which I want to share:

1) Students know the benchmarks we are doing are important. However, they would like to know how they are doing on them. We need to find a way to share their benchmark results with our students so they know how they are improving.

2) Across the board these students did not believe there's much gang activity happening in our schools. But, they do believe there is more bullying happening than we are acknowledging. They said some students feel the need to protect themselves because they don't think we are protecting them. Students come to us feeling safer than they do elsewhere, but they don't feel as safe as they want to be. We need to respond to this. So, we will look at what we're doing to maintain a safe learning environment.

As we depart and go into fall break, let's pause and reassess where we are and where we have yet to go. I thank you for the hard work this first quarter of the school year and I look forward to seeing you after the break.

Enjoy yourselves!

---Curtis 

     Kay Brumbelow, one of three finalists, was named the 2010-2011 Griffin-Spalding Teacher of the Year at the October 5 board of education meeting. The other finalists selected by fellow teachers were Lee Thomas of Spalding High School and Steven Posey of Kennedy Road Middle School.
 

Brumbelow, an 8th grade language arts teacher at Cowan Road Middle School, has worked for the Griffin-Spalding County School System since 2005.  She received her undergraduate degree at Clayton College & State University and her Masters degree from Troy University.  

During the selection process, Brumbelow said, "My message to fellow teachers is this: Never stop believing that you can make a difference. Never give up hope that what you do every day is making the difference in the life of a child. While sometimes our work can seem all in vain, know in your hearts that your effort with a child is never fruitless."

"She is undoubtedly one of the most effective members of our instructional staff. She is a true professional... her classroom is a laboratory of learning which reflects the belief that all children can learn, just not all in the same way," said Cowan Road Middle School principal Rachelle Holloway.

Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones, said, "All three of our Griffin-Spalding Teacher of the Year finalists have dared to do better. I congratulate Ms. Brumbelow and wish her the best as she represents the Griffin-Spalding County School System in the state competition. She is an outstanding educator, and we as a system are fortunate to have her in our system."

Two Griffin-Spalding County schools, Jackson Road Elementary and Cowan Road Elementary, have received Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants (from the United States Department of Agriculture) for the 2010-2011 school year. 

Through food purchased by the grant funds, students are served fresh fruit and vegetable snacks at designated times during the school day. The snacks supplement the regular school nutrition program.

The goal of this program is to:

• Create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices.
• Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience.
• Increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Make a difference in children's diets to impact their present and future health.