Well, as you can imagine at this point, I'm not going to say much. It is still an on-going process, and it would be inappropriate for me to say more than I can. But, what I do want to share with you is that I am firmly convinced that at the end of this process we will be a stronger and better system. Have faith. And to those who have called, emailed, and stopped by, I appreciate you.

 

So let's now move on to something we can talk about and deal with.

 

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) sent out an email earlier this week. Its subject line is "Your Voice is Important". You should make yourself aware of the pending legislation about charter schools and the amendment to the Georgia Constitution that directly affects every school system, your students, job, and pay. I've attached the email so you can read it.

 

I will share with you that I wholeheartedly agree with the email's author.

 

Don't let others tell you what to think. Do your homework and develop your own opinion. Then, act accordingly.

 

There are some in our local community already voicing their opinion. I wish I could just tell everyone how wrong I think they are about these pending changes, but you have to come to your own conclusions. So please read this email, follow through with it, and have a great weekend!

 

For GSCS employees who play golf or want a swimming pool for their children to use in the summer or clay courts for tennis, a membership in the Griffin Country Club might be the thing. The country club off Pine Hill Road is offering a six month promotional membership limited to the first 50 employees who sign up.

• Read more!
• See the club's open house flyer!
• Download the membership form!  

 

At the same time this year's eighth graders showed a two percent decrease not meeting standards on the Eighth Grade Writing Assessment, the same class of students also showed a two percent increase in exceeding standards. 

Shelia Mincey, Middle Grades Director and Special Education Director, reported the results of the writing assessment at the Tuesday, April 3, board of education meeting. 

 

Click to Enlarge

 

Shelia Mincey said, "The Eighth Grade Writing Assessment is a mandated state assessment administered annually to all 8th graders in the state of Georgia. It focuses on persuasive and expository writing.

 

"During the testing session of 100 minutes, students are randomly assigned writing prompts and given a designated format, either persuasive or expository, in which to respond to the prompt."

 Student writings are scored by two independent readers who assign scores in the areas of ideas, organization, style, and conventions. 
 

All schools administered mock writing tests, used the Georgia Department of Education rubric to score the mock assessments, analyzed results, provided students clear commentary on their performance, and adjusted instruction to address the learning needs of the students prior to the administration.

 Mincey said teachers would now examine root causes of any students failing to meet standards to prepare to establish goals for next school year. Professional development using Thinking Maps for Writing will be offered in June to teams selected from each school.

 

The Georgia Department of Education has released today schools and school systems' graduation rates for 2011 (last year) based on a different formula from the one the state used in the past. Under the "leaver" graduation rate in place last year, Griffin-Spalding's rate was 74.1%. Under the new cohort rate, that rate became 58.82%. While the number who actually graduate hasn't changed, the graduation rate itself paints an entirely different picture.  

 

The projected cohort graduation rate for 2011-12 is 63.68%. The projected dropout rate for 2011-12 is 7.21%.

Click to enlarge.

 

"There are currently 46 students who are not dropouts, are still in school or graduated during this year and who were counted as first time ninth graders in 2007. Yet because they didn't graduate in 2011, they negatively impact the graduation rate.

 

"They still graduate with a bono fide high school diploma and walk the field at graduation because they earned it.

 

"They are graduates - they just don't count under the new graduation rate calculation.

 

"Like the Georgia Department of Education, which is adhering to updated federal regulations that require comparison among states using identical formulas, we too want the best data available for Griffin-Spalding

students to help them succeed in school and in life.

 

"We can't and won't give up on students who may be behind. There will still be credit recovery opportunities to help students stay on track and catch up. Our job is to educate and graduate more than these numbers show. We need everyone's help to be able to do that."

 

The Cohort Graduation Rate formula is:

 Number of cohort members who earned a regular high school diploma by the end of the 2010-2011 school year

 

_______divided by_______

 Number of first-time 9th graders in fall 2007 (starting cohort) plus students who transfer in, minus students who transfer out, emigrate, or die during school years 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011

 

 

An employee of Kennedy Road Middle School has filed a grievance against the Griffin-Spalding County School System Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones alleging that he made a remark which she considered to be offensive.

The Griffin Spalding County Board of Education will conduct a hearing on that grievance pursuant to its employee grievance policy GAE on Tuesday, April 17, at 4:30 pm, in the board of education meeting room at 216 South Sixth Street, Griffin.  
  

presents

 

Spring Art Show

 

Location:  Spalding High School

Date:  Tuesday, May 1st

Time: 6-8pm

Awards Ceremony - 7pm

 

There will be student art for sale starting at $10.

(Choices include: Mini-canvases on easels, originals and prints of acrylic paintings, watercolors, pen & ink drawings, magnets, and more!)

 

Special Exhibits

• SHS 2012 France and Italy Trip: See and purchase original photography, paintings, and drawings based on the students' trip.
• Advanced Placement Drawing and 2-D Design: Students will showcase their portfolio of 24 pieces each.
• Art I-IV: Students will showcase mixed media 2-D and 3-D pieces.
• The SHS Photography Club's 20 Day Challenge.

Proceeds from this and our Fall 2012 Exhibition will start a great tradition for the SHS Art Department as 2 scholarships offered to advanced art students during Fall 2012.

 

Local first responders and Partner in Education Connor-Westbury Funeral Home presented a driving disaster demonstration to show GHS and SHS students the dangers of drinking and driving.

SHS student Rachel Kesler spoke to her peers about the effects of such a disaster. She was an innocent victim when a drunk driver hit her car head-on right before Christmas 2011. She talked about the crash, being in a coma for three days, the injuries she sustained, and her on-going physical therapy.

The school system extends a deep thank you to all of the agencies who worked with us to provide this experience for our students at both Griffin High and Spalding High.

(These photos are from Spalding High School. Second photo shows SHS student Rachel Kesler speaking to her peers. Please see the entire album on our Facebook page. The GSCS Facebook link is to the right. You do not have to be a Facebook member to view the page.)