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A New Opportunity for Students
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a message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones
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The Griffin-Spalding School System is an outstanding district. I know that sounds like I am patting myself on the back but really I am patting you on the back. You need to know how good we are and how we continue to improve every day.
As we continue to move forward with all the new improvements for continuous success, I am amazed at what we are able accomplish. Just think about the pace of change that is coming to us... a new teacher evaluation system, a new leader evaluation system, new teacher induction and leader induction, a new mentoring program, a new curriculum, and new standards. Wow! And some people say public education hasn't changed. They just don't know! You are an agent of change and we are better for it. The Griffin Spalding community is better for it and I think they appreciate what you do. In fact, I know they do.
This week at Kiwanis Club of Griffin meeting I had the privilege of hearing retired educator Louisa Melton share a passion that she now has in her life. It is one that allows the community to help us become even better. Louisa talked about the Ferst Foundation of Spalding County. This foundation is about childhood literacy.
"The mission of the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy is to provide books for children in Georgia from birth to age 5 to help them become prepared for learning success."
Louisa went on to explain that for $28 per year, anyone can provide a child one book each month from birth to age 5, a monthly community newsletter which includes a book guide and activity page, a Parent's Guide which gives tips for reading with their child and a suggested age-appropriate book list many of which are available in our Flint River Regional Library.
The Ferst Foundation of Spalding County is a fundraising effort where anyone in the county can help. As you know many students come to us with a deficit in their language skills. Many years ago I heard about Dolly Parton who started something like this in her hometown. She provided a book to all students from birth to age 5 to help them prepare for school. And, I remember having conversations with Brenda Ramage, Carole Bland and Louisa Melton about how we could duplicate this in Griffin Spalding. Some of you may remember at one time we had a program with the Spalding Regional Medical Center where a new mother was given a book for her new-born child. This effort by the Ferst Foundation of Spalding County improves on that project. Just imagine what will happen when students come to us after having received a book every month for the first five years of their life! You know children and how excited they will be when a book comes with their name on it. They will want their parents to read it to them again and again and again. Their vocabulary will increase. They will come to us better prepared and we can help them to better achieve. Just imagine the possibilities if every child in Spalding County enters kindergarten ready to learn. That's what the Ferst Foundation is all about.
I wanted to share this story with you. I am excited about what it can do and I look forward to submitting my first donation to the Ferst Foundation. I hope you take time to research this organization and maybe you too can help them as well.
http://www.ferstfoundation.org/
Dare to do better and have a great weekend.
COLDR
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Bus Driver Johnnie Lewis receives the Classified Employee of the Year in Transportation from Assistant Superintendent Jim Smith.
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The Budget Warrior: Six Ways to Deal with the Rising Cost of State Health
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For more information, please contact Kathy Gossett 770-229-3700.
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Information and Free Guides brought to you by Clear Concepts: http://clearconcepts.net/shbp2013/access.html
What can one do to lessen the hit to their wallet? Quite a lot, actually. Here's a list of things that
can save you money. Not every idea can be used by every plan tier, and some take more work than
others, but the savings can add up very quickly.
1. Join Wellness - It costs less and the benefits are richer.
2. Quit Tobacco- You will save the $80 surcharge and the cost of tobacco. Help and resources are available to support you in the process.
3. Join the Disease State Management Program (DSM) if you have asthma, diabetes, or coronary artery disease, you can save a bundle on prescriptions. Call 954-767-5566 for more information.
4. Choose HRA - The HRA plan is a better deal because of the lower HRA premiums, the 85% coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, tests, etc. after the deductible is met, and the free HRA account dollars to help you pay for your initial expenses.
5. Work the prescription plan to save - if you can't take advantage of the DSM, there are many other ways to save on prescriptions. For example, use 90-day mail order whenever possible. Know what tier your drugs are in and choose the insurance company which categorizes them in the lowest tier. Or, forget about using your State Health card and check the $4 list at Walmart, Kroger, CVS etc. to see if your drug (or one you can switch to) is available for $4.
6. Consider PeachCare - If you have kids and you qualify for PeachCare, you could save a bundle. PeachCare includes your child's healthcare coverage, but it also includes dental and vision coverage. Not to mention, kids under 6 are free.
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Congratulations to the BB&T team for winning the PIE Golf Tournament which raised $21,000 for GSCS. PetroSouth's Raymond Ray presents the top prize to Leonard Bolton, Ken Coursey, Hal Johnson and Cal Oxford. Johnson is the husband of GSCS teacher Nancy Johnson, Futral Road Elementary.
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Three Griffin-Spalding schools receive national award
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, has recognized 19 Georgia schools for transforming campuses into a healthy place for students and staff.
"Congratulations to Jackson Road Elementary, Cowan Road Elementary, and Cowan Road Middle School for going beyond expectations to create an environment that improves the health of students and staff," said Dr. Curtis Jones, Superintendent. "P.E. teacher Andrea Woodroof has pointed out that Georgia has the second highest obesity rate in the country and nearly one in three youth in America is overweight or obese. Our students and staff members at these schools as well as their families have demonstrated their commitment to fight childhood obesity."
To earn the National Recognition Award the Georgia schools have improved nutrition services and physical activity programs to meet or exceed stringent standards set by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program.
Schools are eligible for Bronze, Silver, or Gold National Recognition Awards based on their level of achievement. The 19 Georgia Schools join 250 schools from around the country being honored at the Healthy Schools Program Forum in Little Rock, Ark.
Jackson Road Elementary was one of only three schools in Georgia and 60 schools in the country to receive the Silver award.
"The award-winning schools have demonstrated diligence and creativity that serve as an inspiration for other schools locally and nationally," said Ginny Ehrlich, chief executive officer of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. | |
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| Employees of the Month | |
Middle Schools
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Carver Road
Carver Road Middle Leadership Team: Your leadership as an extension of the administrative team has been crucial to our success thus far. We are off to a great year because of your diligence, vision, and high level of expectations. Thank you for making our school a great place to be!
Cowan Road We would like to thank Quenton Davis and members of the Fall A-Fair Committee for their creativity and hard work as they collaborated to plan events such as the CRMS Block Party for our students and the fall festival for our students, families, staff, and partners-in-education. Great ways to increase stakeholder involvement...Great Job!!Employee of the Month
Kennedy Road
Chandra Bell and Jameka Mallory, KRMS Academic Coaches, have provided the much needed support to the KRMS staff throughout the TKES process. They have conducted informal walkthroughs and provided the staff with constructive feedback. The CCGPS Standards are being taught at a proficient rate consistently because of their support.
Rehoboth Road
Shiketha Jester, Counselor is being recognized for employee of the month at RRMS. She has done an excellent job multitasking the many duties such as counseling students and classroom visits, being Test Coordinator, assisting teachers and parents, implementing Ga411, and heading up RTI. She is a great addition to our staff!
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| Health & Benefits Open Enrollment | | |
This is a reminder that open enrollment will end November 9th at 4:30p.m.
If you have not already been online to complete your enrollment please go to www.mygscs.org to do so.
Also, don't forget that the Flex Spending enrollment also ends November 9th.
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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| Superintendent Advisory Council Suggestions | | |
The Superintendent's Advisory Council met on October 4 to discuss Curriculum Nights and Open House. The group of parents, teachers and students made several suggestions that we need to consider. First, both Curriculum Nights and Open House should be scheduled so parents can attend for all their students regardless of their age-level. The same holds true for teachers participating in their own students' schools. The suggestions included varying times and nights, setting a Curriculum Week with each school level designated for a particular night of the week.
This Council meets monthly to discuss items of particular interest needing feedback. |
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Judy Parker, APR gscs Communicator Editor Griffin Spalding County School System PO Drawer N Griffin, Georgia 30224 |
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