Do you still remember me?

A problem we face is the high number of students who transfer from one school to another. Transiency is not just a problem in the Griffin-Spalding County School System; it is a problem in the rest of the state and the nation also. The more students qualify for free and reduced lunch, the more they have fallen into poverty, and have to move in with extended family. While these students continue to learn, they have to deal with complications.

Earlier this week, I attended a training session for the program "Thinking Maps". Dr. Maggie Shook, the superintendent in the Thomaston-Upson School System, invited some of us to attend the training with their administrators. It's considered a best practice when implemented correctly and allows students to better understand their own thinking. It also lets teachers see how students think, thereby allowing earlier interventions so students can learn more effectively and efficiently.

While I had thought about Thinking Maps training, I hadn't thought about how it could be used to address transiency.

  

Think back with me
Almost a year ago, I shared a story about a little girl in our school system who said, "Do you remember me?" In a quick synopsis, this student (whom I'll call "Sara") had been in three of our elementary schools and was having a difficult time. For some time, I was worried about her falling through the cracks. But the last time I talked to you about Sara, she was doing well, and things were getting better and better. (click here for full story)

  

Well, to my surprise, before the Thinking Maps training started, one of the Thomaston-Upson administrators introduced himself and said, "We just got your former student, Sara." 

The principal said, "Sara told me about her experiences in Griffin and had told me she had attended a particular elementary school." He almost had the school's name right, and when I said the name of the school, he said, "Yup, that's it." 

I introduced that school's principal to the Thomaston-Upson principal.  A conversation about Sara followed, and then the Thomaston-Upson principal proceeded to share that Sara considered her enrollment in that particular GSCS elementary school a good time in her life. From my perspective, it was probably one of the most difficult times for her. However, I think Sara realized how much people there cared for her. 

  

Throughout the rest of the day I thought, "You know, Sara has been in three of our elementary schools. She's now here in another county, in another elementary school. She's only in the 3rd grade. Transiency is really going to be a problem for her." 

  

But, as I went through the Thinking Maps training, I realized Sara would benefit from Thomaston-Upson's Thinking Maps, because no matter where students go, there would be consistency. Consistency creates safety for students, giving them the freedom to study and learn. So, I feel good about Sara. I'm glad she's still doing well and that she's with a family that cares for her. Her new principal promised to keep me informed of where she is and how she's doing. It warmed my heart to know she actually mentioned us and what we had done for her, and that she had good memories of those days. 

In closing, the district's leadership team will be working next week. We have a planning symposium on Thursday where we'll come together to make sure that we are all on the same page for planning 2011-2012. Major topics will include Class Keys, Leader Keys, the budget, and the decision about the school system becoming an IE2 school district.

Enjoy your break, relax, refresh, renew, and come back restored and ready to go. 

Thank you. 

Pre-K Registration in March

The Griffin-Spalding County School System will hold Pre-Kindergarten registration the week of March 7-11, in each elementary school from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To participate, children must be four years of age on or before September 1, 2011 and must be a resident of Georgia.

  

Georgia's Pre-K Program is a state lottery funded educational program. The purpose of Georgia's Pre-K Program is to prepare children for success in Kindergarten and later school years.

Special Education Department recognized by state

The Special Education Department of the Griffin-Spalding County School System has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year by the Georgia Department of Education for having students with disabilities in a general education setting for 80% of the time. This award recognizes that the Griffin-Spalding County School System does not isolate special education students, but rather includes them in the regular school environment.

  

Sheila Mincey, Director of the Special Education Department, said, "The special education department supports students in the regular education setting through assistive technology, accommodations and modifications in the classroom. We're honored to receive this award that recognizes the work of our teachers."  

Preview the February 22, 2011, Board of Education meeting

-Please click here-