Making up snow days

If you were on break this past week, I hope you had a chance to rest and get ready for our testing season only a few short weeks ahead.

You may remember that because of a shortage of financial resources, we scheduled students to come to school only 178 days out of 180. Because the state allows 4 emergency days for natural disasters, inclement weather, and budget restraints, we enacted this provision to shorten our school year by two days.

However, we were closed for 3 snow days; therefore students will be out of school for a total of five days, creating a need to make up one school day.

On Tuesday, our board of education met and approved the snow day make-up plan for students. We will extend the school year by one school day on May 26. For more information please click here.

May 26 was previously scheduled for post-planning, so while it's an additional day for students, it is not for employees.

Therefore, we have discussed a plan for employees making up missed work days.

In the past we've used several options:

• Extend post-planning and go later into the summer
• Extend work days to make-up missed time
• Ask employees to maintain a log documenting time spent in faculty meetings, PTO meetings, Saturday school, etc. (And then have principals verify the logs.)

We have other factors to take into consideration this year.

You have experienced 6 furlough days. We've asked that you do all you can to help our students before and after school and on weekends (especially during this time leading up to testing season). It's been a difficult year, and we appreciate your hard work and dedication.

We will not be adding additional days or hours to employee work schedules to make up for the missed days. Teachers will only have one day for post-planning.

Our belief is that we've asked you to do all you can this year. You've dared to do better (and continue to do so), and we appreciate it. This is one way we can say we recognize your hard work for the Griffin-Spalding County School System.

I hope this meets with your approval. Have a great weekend! 

Scholarship Opportunties
for you!

Don't miss these fabulous scholarships!

Griffin-Spalding Retired Educators Association 

    - The deadline for applying is Friday, April 29, 2011.

    - $500 to any employee enrolled or accepted in a  
      teacher education program.

    - For additional information, please contact:

      Mrs. Kathryn Lance

      770-227-0265 or klance97@comcast.net 

PAGE 
(click link to access scholarship)

    - The deadline for applying is April 1, 2011. 

GSCS 
(click link to access scholarship)

    - For classified employees

    - The deadline for applying is March 23, 2011. 

Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation 
(click link to access scholarship)
    - For certified employees & GTAPP employees

    - The deadline for applying is March 25, 2011.

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.

Click here for more information. 

A change in the Employee of the Week program

A note from Communicator's Editor, Elizabeth Benz

 

So far this school year, the Griffin-Spalding County School System has recognized 495 employees in the weekly Communicator through the Employee of the Week program. In order to continue a meaningful recognition of employees who are exceeding job expectations, we are shifting to a monthly format.

Employee of the Month will feature a different group of employees each week.

This week features elementary school employees. Next week will feature middle school employees. The following week will be the high schools, and then all other program and work site employees will be recognized.

Congratulations to all employees who have been honored with this program. You have been commended for doing a great job - and we appreciate your dedication!

GSCS student Lee Cook is teaching students and adults at Mainstay Academy how to play chess for his community service project. Students at Mainstay Academy are involved in the Student Achievement Model, a social skills instruction model which utilizes a points and levels system (token economy) to motivate students and track their progress. Students must use their points to purchase privileges at school and to purchase "bonds".  A bond is an investment in one's self - in one's ability to do better.  Students must purchase 100 bonds, have ten consecutive days without major behavior problems, complete a written application for advancement, and complete an approved community service project before they can advance to a higher level within the system.  Lee based his community service project on his own interest in chess.  He designed and scheduled the chess lessons / clinics addressing a broad scope of skill levels among his participants.  His planning and actions have also incorporated Mainstay Academy's Positive Behavior Supports goals: Be polite, Be Your Personal Best, Be a Community Member and Accept and Care for yourself and others.

(Submitted by Mainstay Academy)

Employees of the Month

(Click here to learn about the change!) 

Anne Street 

Marcy Blackmon

for doing an excellent job orchestrating our Black History program 

Atkinson

Rachel Bama

She had a student win the Bully Free Essay Writing contest sponsored by the Atlanta Hawks. She is doing an amazing job with the Writing to Win Program.

Beaverbrook

Our custodians

They have worked very hard this week to get our building in shape for the students. Their efforts are noticed and appreciated!

Cowan Road

Andrea Bonner
PE teacher

- Extremely helpful in taking on extra responsibilities that support our school improvement plan.

- Always willing to lead our school through new initiatives like PBIS and Wellness projects.

- Genuinely cares for seeing student achievement increase and cares for the overall wellbeing of each individual student. 

Crescent

Nina Fowler
PK teacher

For giving our student an excellent foundation for their first school experience. Nina is SUPER efficient. She plans differentiated lessons for her students & assesses them constantly to be sure they understand. She is an Eager Beaver on EVERYTHING she does and things are done correctly and quickly. Her class was recently showcased on the new PK video coordinated by the Georgia PK program. We are very proud of Miss Nina and our PK program!

Futral Road

Harriet Goodsell
3rd grade

for initiating and coordinating a cooperative math activity between 2nd and 3rd grade classes. This activity used goods and services to help students make real world connections in their learning.

Jackson Road

Megan Pline
Computer Lab teacher

For leading the HealthMPowers Grant data input school wide, creating Study Island Pre and Post tests for tutorial, leading parent workshops on how to help their child all while managing school wide computer lab offerings, data review of program usage and facilitating program management to benefit our students. Thank you!

Jordan Hill

Amy Slagle
4th grade teacher

Works hard to make learning challenging and fun for her students by providing exciting, performance-based instruction

Moore

Wendy White
Music

a gifted musician, teacher, artist and creator. All of these attributes are infused into her classroom delivery and in her readiness to oversee all fine arts performances at our school. Her latest creation was the "Masters of Moore" Black History program where over 100 students, parents & community supporters came by our school to watch our students make history. She is a quiet storm in her day to day relationships with students, parents and staff; yet when she performs with her trumpet, directs the chorus in dance and song, or teaches an integrated lesson such as using music to understand fractions and other mathematical concepts, she is roaring hurricane filled with energy and passion. We appreciate her and salute her for her creativity and dedication to Moore Elementary school.

Moreland Road

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers

for a great annual CRCT information night for parents. We had the biggest crowd ever!

Orrs 

Jonathan McGavin 
for making great progress with the ALEKS program here at Orrs; for going over and beyond in supporting the School Improvement plan at Orrs