Week of October 8-12, 2012 

the Griffin-Spalding County School System's employee e-newsletter

published by the school & community services department

the gscs COMMUNICATOR

system-wide straight talk
Employees of the Month
System wide
Nutrition

Karen Betsill has worked tirelessly to process over 6000 Free and Reduced Meal applications since the start of school.  Her attention to detail and her diligence leads to getting applications processed in a timely manner.  Karen's gentle and supportive manner in dealing with families through this process is appreciated.  Karen does all this while keeping up with all of her other responsibilities, and she always does it with a smiling face, a gentle spirit, and a song in her heart! 

Transportation

We would like to recognize Helen McClure. Helen has been a school bus driver for almost 34 years.  She currently provides service to Moreland Road Elementary, Griffin High School, and Carver Middle School.  Helen was very happy to take possession of her brand new school bus, 13-111, this week.  She has had 3 new buses in her career. Helen loves her students and looks forward to seeing the kids each morning.  Congratulations to Helen McClure!

Superintendent's Office

Note: A record number of nominations were received for this month's Employee of the Month.

The Employees of the Month are the three floating custodians (Diane Barkley, Portia Newton and Ingra Parks) for performing well and making a difference wherever they are sent.  Many thanks to them!








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A message from Superindent Dr. Curtis Jones
Dr. Curtis Jones 
Students are teaching us

Congratulations to a great start to the school year! This is the beginning of fall break. As I reflect on the months of August and September, I believe that we are off to one of the best starts ever.

 

I know the work is continuing to be hard as we look at the implementation of the new common core. I know as we look at the new requirements for Teacher Keys and Leader Keys, it's changed. But I continue to be thoroughly impressed by how well we are continuing to implement these new initiatives and demonstrate why we are a leader in the state in student achievement.

 

Last week I had the good fortune to visit Carver Road Middle School. I was there because the President of Georgia Tech was helping us kick off the partnership we have formed with them through the $7.3M National Science Foundation grant called AMP-IT-UP we won together.

   CAMS STEM launc... AMP-IT-UP.JPG

   

As we were visiting the school we saw one class of students demonstrate what is going to typically happen over the next five years as STEM becomes a more integrated part of helping students master content. It was a great time. The school and the students were very, very impressive.

 

  CAMS STEM Calloway Elliott.JPG

 

 

Part of this story that you may not know, though, is after that, I had the opportunity to visit Griffin High School and see part of their STEM Academy. As I was visiting with Mrs. Dobbs she shared with me her excitement about how she was working with the other two teachers on the team - Mr. Richard Burrell and Mr. Harper as they had just completed a project.  

 

Quite often in this blog, I share with you what I have observed. This time I have asked the school to share with me some documents that let you know what students are thinking. 

 

This link connects you with students who shared their reflections on the latest STEM projects they completed. There are also a couple of teachers for you to see.

   

I share these with you because I believe they help demonstrate what we already know: the integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics works. Students can make the connections and do so much more when we challenge them with high expectations.

 

These students are demonstrating that for us, and I wanted to share it with you.

 

I also want to thank you for being a part of the Griffin-Spalding County School System.

 

I hope you enjoy your fall break. I ask you to be safe and to come back ready to continue this school year.

 

Have a great break, everybody.

COLDR

 

 

Griffin High School STEM Academy in pictures 

 

 

 

BOARD BRIEFS
At its regular meetings September 25 and October 2, the board of education. . . .

 

  •  Recognized the 2012-13 Teacher of the Year finalists (from left below) 
    • Jocena Avery - Crescent Elementary 
    • Julie Evans - Cowan Road Middle
    • Dr. Edward Lee Ramseur - Griffin High School 

  • Recognized Science Enrichment Center Supporters
    • First National Bank -- Mr. Dick Brooks
    • UGA -Griffin -- Dr. Jerry Johnson
    • Caterpillar -- Mr. Rod Shurman
  • Recognized Assistant Superintendent/CFO Jim Smith and Director of Accounting Ryan McLemore for our system's earning the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the seventh consecutive year.
  • Approved on the consent agenda:
    • Title I Purchase
    • Title II Purchase
    • Title I Purchase Flexible Learning Program
    • (FLP) Request for Applications 2012-2013 School Year
    • (FLP) Scoring Rubric for Provider Questions
    • (FLP) Mandatory Requirement Review
    • Field Trip Requests of
        • Cowan Road Middle School -- 8th Grade Students -- Tuskegee University Open House -- Tuskegee, Alabama -- September 29, 2012
        • Griffin High School -- Spanish Club--Clemson University -- Clemson, South Carolina -- October 27, 2012
        • Spalding High School -- Students in Close Up Program to Washington, D. C. -- January 5 - January 11, 2013
        • Spalding High School -- Advanced Art, Advanced Acting, and Advanced Chorus Students to New York -- April 18 - April 20,2013
    • Human Resources Personnel Actions
    • First Reading of Board Policy BCBK -- Executive Sessions
    • Second Reading of Board Policy IFCB -- Field Trips
    • Second Reading of Policy LEBA -- Parental Involvement in Education
    • Second Reading of Board Policy IDDD -- Gifted Policy
    • First Assembly of God -- Use of Old West Griffin School Site
    • New Fuel System Purchase
  • The board also approved 21st Century Classroom Purchase of Instructional Technology, Antivirus, Anti-Spam and Internet Security Software and computers.
  • The board heard the financial information for the month ending July 31and August 31, 2012
  • Presentations to the board included:
    • The upcoming visit of the United States Department of Education to study the Teacher Evaluation System (TKES)
    • Communications about the board's Resolution Opposing the Charter Amendment
    • The Most Valuable Parent Award for September 2012
  • Announcements
  • Friday, October 5 -- Partner in Education Golf Tournament fundraiser for grants to schools
  • October 8- 12, 2012 -- Fall Break
  • Monday - Friday, October 15-19, National School Lunch Week and National School Bus Safety Week
gscs Communicator Interim Editor
Griffin Spalding County School System
PO Drawer N ~ Griffin, Georgia 30224  
COLDR 2