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Halftime!
A message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones
Superbowl XLVI was outstanding! Those watching the New York Giants and the New England Patriots enjoyed an excellent game - one that was exciting to the very finish!
But for me, I truly enjoyed watching the commercials. The one that stands out in my mind is Chrysler's "It's Halftime in America" starring Clint Eastwood. I thought it was exceptional, and I don't put any political motives behind it. I just know that times have been tough. The unemployed are looking for jobs. The employed are worried about keeping jobs. People are worried about healthcare. Everyone is concerned about what can be done to end this mess we're in.
And yet, Detroit has been in that situation and is now recovering. With 23 consecutive months of job growth, the nation does appear to be coming out of the recession. During the commercial, I felt good about that. At that one moment not only was is halftime in the Superbowl, it was declared to be Halftime in America.
 | Halftime in America:
Chrysler Super Bowl 2012 Commercial |
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It's also Halftime in the Griffin-Spalding County School System.
We've seen tough days where the budget situation has continued to impact us. It's been hard to maintain morale and stay motivated, especially when you're getting paid less than what you should yet you are expected to achieve more. I know that.
You are achieving more. Accolade after accolade has recently come in for your hard work and results -congratulations! You are helping our students prepare for a better tomorrow.
It's also Halftime because there are some who wish to divide us and make coming decisions more difficult. There are some who wish to divide:
- You and me. At one point they wanted to say that I was getting a pay raise when you weren't getting a pay raise. That wasn't true but they still wanted to talk about it only because they didn't have anything else to talk about. (Click to access that Communicator.)
- Teachers from everyone else. Teachers have been getting salary step increases for the past 2 years when no one else received them. The increases carried out Georgia law. That's not teachers' fault. We are addressing it now, not because we want to, but because we feel it is something that needs to be considered in the budget process.
- Central Office from the schools. Some say Central Office has too many people and the schools don't have enough. Many of you remember that I shared with you the results of FY11 which illustrated how much Central Office costs per pupil when compared with the rest of the state. We are in the middle. We did examine that same data and learned that we needed to focus in on other areas. (Access that presentation.)
Some don't want to look at data. They just want to say, "What about me?" There are some who look at the glass to see if it's half-empty or half-full. There are others who say I don't care whether it's half-empty or half-full, I just care about my glass. I'm sorry that's the feeling.
This past week I was excited as I visited:
- Cowan Road Middle School's kitchen. The nutrition workers were demonstrating competency as they prepared two days worth of great meals. It was truly a team effort! When I asked them how they were doing it and what was required to make it happen, they were excited to share the work they were doing in Griffin-Spalding.
- a Cowan Road Middle School math class where math 1 is being taught in the 8th grade. The teacher, who is a high school teacher, was excited about being in the middle school - even though she had previously said she never wanted to teach middle school. The students were excited she was there and about what they were learning.
- Griffin High School. I walked down the 100 hallway where renovations have been completed. The 9th graders are no longer in trailers - they are back inside the building! The teachers were excited about the renovations and that they back together as an Academy. A class was piloting technology. The room had an Elmo and an active board. Every student in that class that day had an iPad to do their work. (The students were excited, too.)
- the GHS PAWWS classroom. I saw part of the Griffin High School leadership team working with the Georgia Department of Education and our schools system's curriculum department. They were discussing the School Improvement Grant, how it was proceeding and what we could collaboratively do to continue the improvement and efforts at Griffin High School. There are so many great things that are happening!
Everyone knows we have a tight budget situation. This past week I recommended to the board of education 15 cost reduction ideas that I think can help us get through the next fiscal year.
I am confident that we are going to come out of this okay, and that things are going to get better.
I think it is half-time in Griffin-Spalding, and the best is yet to come.
I hope you feel that way, too.
Have a great weekend!
Curtis |
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Board Briefs
its regular meetings on January 31, and February 7, the board of education. . .
~Transferred Jackson Road Elementary Principal Sara Jones to Director of System and School Improvement effective July 1, 2012.
- This position replaces the high school curriculum director position in the Teaching and Learning Division.
- Current high school curriculum director Laura Youmans was transferred to the School Nutrition Program Director position upon the retirement of current director, Mary Ramsaier.
- SACS is a requiring a redefining of roles and responsibilities in the Teaching and Learning Division.
- The position of Elementary Curriculum Director, currently held by Ashley Crawford, is being reorganized into Pre-K-12 Curriculum Director.
~Approved this Memo of Understanding with the Griffin-Spalding Partners in Education Board of Directors.
~Placed 18 surplus vehicles for sale to the highest bidder. (List)
~Approved the field trip request of Spalding High School Band students to perform at Walt Disney World, April 18 - 22, 2012, in Orlando, Florida.
~Approved federal grant budgets.
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Heard presentations on:
~The request from the Georgia Institute of Technologyto partner with them in applying for a National Science Foundation, Targeted Math and Science Partnership as part of a five-year $5 million grant proposal. (news release)
~Academic progress. Deputy Superintendent Denise Burrell presented student benchmarks for the CRCT and the high school EOCT.
~Strategic Goal 2: Student and Stakeholder Engagement.
~The University of Georgia's Kids' University Summer Camp, a day camp with recreational and educational activities for children ages 8-12.
~The Spalding Collaborative. Topics covered included the Strengthening Communities Fund grant (in which the Griffin-Spadling Partners in Education and the Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation participated), tornado disaster relief, and other services provided to Griffin and Spalding County. Joseph Walker, Director of the Collaborative, said, "We are to the service community what the chamber of commerce is to the business community."
~The December 2011 Financial Statement.
Received points of information on:
~Construction and Renovation ~Facilities and Maintenance ~January 2012 Most Valuable Parents In other business the board recognized. . .
~Governor's Honors Program finalists from Griffin High School and Spalding High School. These students will proceed to the state level of competition to qualify for the GHP program. Griffin High School: Kayla Brantley-Communicative Arts, Jamal Jordan-Executive Management, Ashlee Morgan-Theatre, Jed Paz-Engineering & Technology, Aaron Trimble-Science/Biology. Spalding High School: Daniel Blake-Communicative Arts, Johnathan Bottisti-Theatre, Jon Eady-Science/Chemistry, Dayton Grogan-Science/Biology, Bailey Harvil-Voice, Sara Hockett-Communicative Arts, Tanner Howell-Visual Arts, Emilee Poole-Dance, and Cory Ware-Social Studies. ~Spalding High School's Blue and Silver Brigade for making Excellent Ratings at the Creekview Classic Marching Festival and at the Old South Marching Festival. In addition, it won 3rd Place Colorguard and 3rd Place Drum Major at the Old South Marching Festival. ~Spalding High School band student Ian Wright for making District Honor Band on trumpet. ~Jordan Hill Elementary School Faculty for being named a 2011 Single Statewide Accountability System Gold Award Winner. |
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Spalding High School named a Georgia Advanced Placement Honor School
State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge has named 367 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools, including Spalding High School, which is an AP STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) School and an AP STEM Achievement School. This honor is based on the results of 2011 AP classes and exams.
- An AP STEM School is a school where students test in at least two AP math and science courses.
- An AP STEM Achievement School is a school where students test in at least 2 AP math and science courses and at least 40% of the exam takers earn scores of 3 or higher.
- Students at Griffin High and Spalding High may take AP Biology, Chemistry, Statistics, and Calculus.
- AP classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP classes offer rigorous college-level learning options to high school students. Students who receive a score of 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams may receive college credit.
"Spalding High AP teachers Claudia Dennis, Kristine Ahrens, Michelle Purmort, and Kevin Shultz are AP-College Board trained instructors, hold gifted endorsements and are dedicated to providing opportunities for their students to be challenged and to succeed. We are proud of our students and teachers and applaud Spalding High for receiving this recognition," said Laura Youmans, Director of High School Curriculum.
She continued, "These courses are rigorous college level courses that meet stringent College Board requirements for curriculum, instruction and teacher preparation."
"Georgia has much to be proud of when it comes to the success of Advanced Placement," Superintendent Barge said. "Much of this success can be attributed to the dedication to rigor and excellence at each of our AP Honor Schools."
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GSCS elementary students win the most awards at the
Griffin RESA Literacy Days Regional Competition
Competing against students from Fayette, Henry, Pike, Lamar, Newton, Upson, and Butts counties, Griffin-Spalding elementary students won the most awards during the Griffin RESA Literacy Days Regional Competition for the Grades 3 - 5 category.
The award-winning elementary students are:
- Dantanio Cotton, Moore Elementary - 1st Place 3rd Grade Ready Writing
- Ms. Speer & Ms. Neel's Class, Crescent Elementary, 1st Place Grades 3 - 5 Drama
- Lauren Jones, Futral Road Elementary, 2nd Place 4th Grade Poetry Recitation
- Jada Coker, Crescent Elementary, 2nd Place 5th Grade Poetry Recitation
- Darla Gore, Moreland Road Elementary, 3rd Place 5th Grade Poetry Recitation
In addition, two Griffin-Spalding middle school students received awards in the Grades 6 - 8 category. - Daria Dozier, Kennedy Road Middle School, 3rd Place 7th Grade Ready Writing
- Lauren Hensley, Kennedy Road Middle School, 3rd Place 8th Grade Ready Writing
"We are proud of our students for doing so well at a regional competition," said Denise Burrell, Deputy Superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System. She continued, "Our students are succeeding!" |
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GSCS Spelling Bee
Congratulations to our winning students!
Elizabeth Smyly, Winner (right)
Rehoboth Road Middle School
7th Grade
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Madison Baker, Runner-Up (left)
Crescent Elementary
5th Grade |
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Employee of the Month
Middle Schools
Carver Road Middle
Pamela Davis
Instructional Coach
She has worked extremely hard with our afterschool program. She met with students, gave out letters, teaches, monitors attendance, and assists our after school teachers. She willingly wears many hats and we are proud of her hard work.
Cowan Road Middle
Kristen Miller
After providing 9 weeks of math interventions, Kristin Miller's students demonstrated the greatest gains! His students no longer require interventions at this time. Great job Mr. Miller!!
Kennedy Road Middle
Eugenia Heard
She dedicates herself to the well-being of all students in the building. She's attentive and caring, which allowed her to recognize a student in distress. All of us at Kennedy Road are thankful for teachers like her.
Rehoboth Road Middle
Candace Peek
Secretary
For stepping in to big shoes and doing an excellent job of learning a new job and doing it with excellence. |
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