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Mission Driven.
Standards Based. | |
a message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones | |
 Despite our bleak revenue and budget situation, we must look toward our future to remain a mission-driven standards-based organization. Three different events this week made that very clear to me.
Whole Board of Education Training
A new law requires that Georgia school boards attend and receive professional learning and development. Three hours of this requirement is called, "Whole Board Training." This occurs when all board members and the superintendent work together with certified instructors.
Our Whole Board Training was this week at Griffin RESA. It was unique because we were joined by the Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike and Upson boards of education. This was the first time that we, as a Griffin RESA, had our school boards in the same room going through training. And so the instruction from Griffin RESA as well as Phil Hartley, a well renowned school board attorney, was enlightening for all. We came out of it better.
Teacher Keys
The second training event, which centered on the Teacher Keys Evaluation System provided by the Georgia Department of Education, was two-days long and held in the GSCS Learning Center with some of our administrators. It was a lot of time, but it was good information and an outstanding training!
A common understanding was developed of what individual evaluation standards look like, what you should be looking for, and how to better communicate with the person being evaluated. The attendees told me they were extremely satisfied and impressed with Tawnie Taylor, the DOE trainer. She will return next week to complete another two days of training with the rest of our administrators. Training will then continue in January and February when the pilot of Teacher Keys goes into effect. From what I saw yesterday, Teacher Keys and Race to the Top implementation are starting to come together.
I am convinced that if our system is going to continue to improve, it's going to happen because of the development of our human capital. While Teacher Keys is time consuming, it will help us grow from evaluations. I'm very excited about it.
AdvancEd - SACS
The third event this week was Thursday night's community meeting at Griffin High where about 75 stakeholders came together to prepare for our SACS visit. They broke into groups and talked about each one of the SACS standards that the school system has to meet in order to maintain accreditation. Overall, it was a good time for people who support our school system.
It was a great week for growth. That's what we have to keep in the back of our minds that as we go through these tough budget days. Things will get better, and when they do, we need to be prepared to Dare to Do Better, and we are!
Have a great weekend!
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| Anne Street Elementary student wins big cash for college savings | |
Anne Street Elementary also awarded money | |
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Anne Street Elementary first grade student JoMari Varner (front, center) with his class, principal Evelyn Jones (left), Path2College representative Jennifer Wiggins (back, center), and teacher Liz Akins (right). He won over $1,500 for his college savings and $1,000 for his school. The school was also celebrating Book Character Day.
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JoMari and his family were interviewed by CBS Atlanta for the Friday evening broadcast. |
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| School-to-Career Fair for Middle and High School Students and Parents | |
For more information, please contact Heather Kingsley at 770-229-3700. | |
The Griffin-Spalding County School System will host the 2nd annual School-to-Career Fair on November 3 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Kiwanis of Griffin Center. This event will provide middle and high school students and their families with the opportunity to learn the connections between high school courses, college, and careers. Representatives from colleges, local businesses, and the high schools will be ready to provide information, give demonstrations, and answer questions. There will even be a scavenger hunt for students, and all participants will be entered for a chance to win a prize, graciously donated by Wal-Mart.
There have been recent changes to federal and state legislation which will impact the way students receive academic advisement in grades 6-12. Students will begin exploring career pathways and future plans beginning in middle school in order to successfully transition to high school and college or the work-force. Due to these upcoming changes in the way students will be advised and select courses, the School-to-Career Fair is the ideal place for students and their families to begin the planning process.
"The goal is to help students make smart decisions earlier in their education. We want students to see how their classes in high school flow into their post-secondary plans, whether it is college or the work force. Early planning can lead to a bright future," says Heather Kingsley, Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator. |
| Parent to Parent of Georgia... | | |
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| Board of Education approves 2012-2013 school calendar | |
Facing a budget shortfall of $6 million for the 2012-13 school year, the board of education adopted a 170 day school calendar for 2012-2013, projected to lessen the shortfall by $3.1 million.
The school calendar adopted begins school on August 13 and ends school May 24. Breaks for students and staff include a week-long fall break in October, Thanksgiving week, two weeks at Christmas, a week-long winter break in February and spring break in April.
Denise Burrell, Deputy Superintendent, said, "No instructional time is lost with a 170 day calendar because each school day's instructional time is extended by 20 minutes in the afternoon. All employees will have ten work adjustment days that are already built into this adopted calendar."
School system stakeholders, including parents and students, were asked to indicate their preference of budget-friendly shortened school year calendars. Over 3,000 gave their preference of calendar version, with an overwhelming 91% in favor of the balanced calendar with week-long breaks. |
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| Employee of the Month | |
High Schools | |
Griffin High School
Eric Harper
For working hard, helping raise student achievement in math, the robotics team, and for being a team player.
Spalding High School
Elizabeth Buice
She's the first to arrive in the morning. She has breakfast ready when the students step off the bus. Her day does not end there, she has already begun the noon day meal. She welcomes everyone to eat and does all this with a warm friendly smile. Mrs. Buice is one of the greatest assets at Spalding High School. Thank your Elizabeth for all you do for all of us at Spalding High.
Mainstay Academy
Richard Brantley, site coordinator, and Winnie Clements, HS teacher, Donnie Washington, paraprofessional is Mainstay Academy's Team of the Month! Together they have developed individualized education plans, planned standards based instruction for courses across the HS curriculum in grades 9 - 12, and delivered that instruction to a large group of students with a wide variety of academic interests and skills in a well managed learning environment. They have developed meaningful relationships with these students and have helped each student identify meaningful goals and accept the challenges those goals present. |
| Health & Benefits Open Enrollment | | |
This is a reminder that open enrollment will end November 10th at 4:30p.m.
If you have not already been online to complete your enrollment please go to www.myshbp.ga.gov to do so.
Also, don't forget that the Flex Spending enrollment also ends November 10th.
To complete the medical/dependent daycare spending enrollment you may complete a paper form or call 877-422-3312 M-Th 8:30a.m.-4:30p.m. and Friday 8:30a.m.-4:00p.m.
Benefits Specialist, Griffin-Spalding Schools
770-229-3710 x 353
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| Suspect Fraud? | |
What you need to know. |
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| Preview the Board of Education Meeting | | |
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| FY13 Budget Overview for Employees | | |
Monday,
October 31
4:15pm - at Carver Road Middle School
(Scheduled for the employees of Carver Road Middle, Moreland Road Elementary, Orrs Elementary, and Griffin High School. Any employee who
has missed an earlier session is invited to attend. |
| Congratulations | | |
to transportation employee Johnnie Lewis for winning the United Health Online Wellness Assessment VISA gift card! |
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Elizabeth Benz gscs Communicator Editor Griffin Spalding County School System PO Drawer N Griffin, Georgia 30224 |
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