CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Donna Parks

(with three submissions)

# 1.) Donna is always on the go. She never slows down. Donna works tirelessly for the students in our system. In the span of a single work day, she may meet with parents who have "concerns" as well as consult with a school principal, social worker, school nurse and/or psychologist. I'm always amazed at the volume of work she gets done each day. The education, health and well-being of the students is her number one priority. In addition to her regular responsibilities, Donna has spent hours gathering items for the school system archives. She made numerous calls to retired staff members, rummaged inside the maintenance warehouse and even scavenged spider-filled basements for items for the archives!

Her staff respects her on a professional and personal level. You never have to doubt that Donna will do the right thing for the students as well as her staff members. I'm proud to be a part of her department. 

# 2.) During the month of September, Donna Parks, Director of Student Services, was tasked with the responsibility of visualizing, procuring and establishing the GSCS  archives celebrating the 60th anniversary of consolidation.  Donna accomplished this ENORMOUS task while continuing her daily duties overseeing the large and busy student services department.  She most definitely deserves to be recognized for this accomplishment.

 # 3.) As Director of Student Services, Donna Parks, goes out of her way to be sure that the students, parents and staff are taken care of no matter what their need. Donna is fair to everyone. In addition to her regular duties, she took on the responsibility of setting up the archives for the school system. It has been four weeks of phone calls, digging in the warehouse, the Hall of Fame storage building and walking many miles between buildings to be sure that the 60th Anniversary Archives  is something that GSCS would be proud of for many years to come.

BOE MAKES CONTRIBUTION TO SPALDING COUNTY FERST FOUNDATION

The Griffin-Spalding County School System Board of Education approved a $5,000 donation to the Spalding County Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. This donation will support their mission of increasing literacy skills in Spalding County children from birth to age five so they will be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. The donation will provide funds for monthly, age appropriate books to be mailed to the homes of 178 Spalding County children.

Curtis

ORRS ELEMENTARY RECEIVES SPECIAL VISIT FROM F.B.I.!

(FATHERS BEING INVOLVED)

Dr. Jones came out to read a book!

Orrs Elementary sends a big thanks to all of the dads,
grandfathers, and male role models who took time out of their busy schedules to come and read to their children for Orr's first F.B.I. (Fathers Being Involved) event on Sept. 27. 

Orrs is looking forward to the next one in October.

2013-14 TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST SELECTED

Finalist were announced and recognized at the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 1st. (L-R) Trayon Henderson, Amy Slagle, and Raye Aragon.

Three Griffin-Spalding County teachers are finalists for the district Teacher of the Year.  Candidates from all 18 schools completed the screening process that included judging by last year's winners.

Raye Aragon from Rehoboth Road Middle School, Amy Slagle from Jordan Hill and Trayon Henderson from Anne Street were presented to the Board of Education on October These three teachers will now host classroom observations from instructional specialists as well as participate in a personal interview before the Teacher of the Year is named. 

Ms. Aragon holds a Masters Degree and is certified as both a gifted teacher and a master teacher.  She teaches 7th, 8th and 9th grade mathematics and has also taught algebra, science and gifted reading. Ms. Aragon left a corporate position to return to school for teacher certification in middle grades education.   

Professionally, Ms. Aragon was an officer and presenter of the Atlanta Math Project sponsored by Georgia State. She developed the 7th and 8th grade gifted curriculum and served Taylor Street Middle School as school council chairperson.  Ms. Aragon was a committee member for item review and analysis of the CRCT for the Georgia Department of Education. She was also a committee member for the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators standard setting study.

She is a member of the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Association for Gifted Children, Professional Association of Georgia Educators and Alpha Delta Kappa, Alpha Tau Chapter.  Ms. Aragon was Teacher of the Year for Flynt and Taylor Street middle schools.

"I feel that I must base my teaching on the concept that we all learn in different ways. I try to vary instruction and teaching and develop lessons that allow students to develop their strengths and improve on their weaknesses," she wrote in her application.

"Ms. Aragon's classroom serves as an example for a standards-based classroom where students are expected to think outside the box and dig deep for true understanding," said her Principal Lindy Scott of Rehoboth Road Middle School.

Amy Slagle teaches second grade at Jordan Hill Elementary School.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She, too, left the corporate world to teach.

Professionally, Ms. Slagle participated in numerous professional learning courses including the Teachers as Learners Conference,  Rock Eagle Math Conference, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, Differentiated Instruction, Number Talks, Hands-On Standards and 6+1 Writing Traits.  She serves her school on numerous committees including Leadership Chair for her grade level, newsletter, Math Mania, PBIS and communication.  Ms. Slagle helped edit Standards-Based Report Cards, performance standards charts for language arts and math and the Common Core Language Arts units. 

"Sometimes I just look around my classroom and I think about each and every child and how they have been entrusted to me five days a week for almost eight hours a day. I think about how they need to get from point A to point B with their learning and I am the one in charge of doing that," she wrote.

"Mrs. Slagle is an exemplary teacher. She cares deeply for the welfare of her students and works hard to make sure they leave her well prepared for the next grade," wrote Anthony Aikens, Jordan Hill principal.

Trayon Henderson is a 5th grade teacher at Anne Street Elementary. She holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Reading and Math and has also taught 4th grade at Anne Street.  Several career opportunities came and went for her. They each provided financial stability but she wasn't able to see her worth in those careers. And, like our other two finalists, she went back to school to pursue a degree in education. She became a substitute teacher and then a full-time teacher at Anne Street, where her own children attended elementary school.

She is grade level chairperson and the RTI chair at Anne Street. Ms. Henderson serves as a mentor teacher and redelivered training to other teachers in her school.  Ms Henderson was selected Rookie Teacher of the Year, is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and recipient of the 90/90/90 Award which means 90% of students are on free or reduced lunch, 90% are minorities and 90% met and/or exceeded standards on the CRCT...and those scores are still rising. She is currently completing her math endorsement at UGA-Griffin.

"I know the importance of developing a relationship not only with the students but with the parents as well.  It is when each individual is respected that we all win.  I am a product of someone taking the time to building a relationship," she wrote.

Ms. Henderson supports her two children at Spalding High School, participates in Relay for Life and volunteers at the Salvation Army Canned Food Drive each year.

"As a classroom teacher, Ms. Henderson engages her students in meaningful lessons that are prepared to meet their specific abilities; she is a master at assessing students' needs," wrote her principal  Evelyn Jones.

NEW SHS TEACHER RECEIVES GEORGIA POWER GRANT

Fred Rudbeck, local manager of Georgia Power, Lindsey McDaniel and Derrell Jeffcoat, SHS principal.

Ms. Lindsey McDaniel, teacher at Spalding High and recent graduate of Clayton State University, received a $1000 New Teacher Assistance grant from Georgia Power. This grant program recognizes candidates in the top 25 percent of their graduating class from a public college or university in the area of education.  

Recipients must have shown high aptitude for teaching while in school.  After obtaining a full-time job at a public school in Georgia for the 2013 school year, the teacher is eligible for the grant. The grant focuses on encouraging the best and brightest new teachers by helping them purchase materials and supplies for their classroom.  Ms. McDaniel is an English and Video Production teacher at Spalding High.

Message from Laura Youmans, Director of School Nutrition 

Griffin-Spalding County School System is getting an early start on this year's National School Lunch Week.  Schools in the system will be celebrating School Lunch Across the USA a week early due to Fall Break.  To promote the benefits of healthy school lunches, GSCS students and staff will participate in NSLW activities the week of October 7 -October 11.  This year's theme, School Lunch Across the USA will include events and activities that promote the flavors, ingredients and culture of various regions of the USA. 

Each day of National School Lunch Week will spotlight a different region of our nation.  Monday features the Northeast by offering a turkey wrap or sloppy joes, The West is the focus on Tuesday with taco salad or teriyaki chicken rice bowls.  On Wednesday, our own region of the South is celebrated with BBQ pork, roasted corn, and collards.  A Midwest favorite of 3-Way Cincinnati Chili is the highlighted meal on Thursday.  Friday rounds out the journey in the Southwest with chicken fajitas, Mexican rice and refried beans.  All meals are planned to meet the Healthy Meal Standards that are provided to students every day. 

Each day, more than 7900 children eat school lunch provided by Griffin-Spalding County School Nutrition Services.  School nutrition managers and staff invite parents, families and community members to join us for lunch and "See the USA from your School Lunch Tray."  

HR HAPPENINGS

Message from Edna Aikens, Assistant Director of Human Resources

Please click HERE to view the "Leave Types Reference Guide."  We hope this will help you to understand the leave types that are available to you and the major details of each.

Be aware that the Leave Policy (GARH), the Sick Bank Policy (GBRIB), and the Unpaid Medical Leave Policy (GARH) are all system policies, and the content is decided upon and approved by the Board with consideration of and compliance with all applicable Georgia State laws.

The Family Medical Leave Policy (FMLA) is written in compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act which is a Federal law.

Sick Leave allows you to use your sick days for qualified absences; Family Medical Leave protects your job for qualified absences; Sick Bank days grants you additional sick days for approved catastrophic illnesses for members, and Unpaid Medical Leave will allow you to extend your medical absence beyond your FMLA days as you continue to recuperate from a serious illness.

It is important to note that the policies in their entirety are located on the system website and should be reviewed if there are questions beyond what is provided in the reference guide.  The policies are also subject to review and change by the board from time to time.  We do notify employees of policy changes via Communicator, staff meetings and beginning of the year meetings.

If you have any specific questions, please call Edna at
770-229-3700, extension 345.

FLU VACCINES FOR GSCS

Vaccines are offered to students covered by Medicaid, Peach-care or United Healthcare at no cost. Uninsured students will be charged $14.81.  

School  schedule:  

• Oct 21st - Kennedy Rd. and Rehoboth Rd.
• Oct 28th - Anne St. and Moreland Rd              
• Oct 29th - SHS and Futral Rd 
• Oct 31st - Beaverbrook and Jordan Hill
• Nov 1st - Orrs and Jackson Road
• Nov 5th - Atkinson, Moore, and A. Z. Kelsey
• Nov 6th - Cowan Road Elem. 
• Nov 7th - Carver Road
• Nov 12th - Cowan Middle and GHS
• Nov 13th - Crescent

The school nurses will be sending forms home in a few weeks to all elementary school parents. Students at the middle and high schools need to pick up a form in the front office or in the school clinic. 

For additional information, please call the individual school nurses.  

This year, 260 GSCS students took the SAT.  This test has been used for 85 years as a predictor of student success in college.  Students were tested in Critical Reading, Math and Writing.

Griffin-Spalding County students increased Critical Reading from 445 in 2012 to 452 in 2013.  Math scores went from 441 in 2012 to 444 in 2013.  Writing scores increased from 434 to 435.

Total scores are determined by adding the three component scores giving GSCS students a total score averaging 1331.   

"Both Griffin High and Spalding High offer SAT prep sessions to their students at no cost," said Deputy Superintendent Denise Burrell.  "We anticipate that focused sessions can improve the performance on the SAT by the students who are enrolled in these programs."

"While SAT is an indicator of college success, it gives our district an indication of the success of our college preparatory instruction," said Curtis L. Jones, Jr., Ed.D., superintendent of schools.  "When I see SAT scores rising, I know that we are focusing our instruction in a manner that will help our students after high school."

BOARD BRIEFS

At its regular meeting on October 1, the board of education....

Recognized...

• Griffin-Spalding County School System's 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year Finalists:
• Trayon Henderson, Anne Street Elementary
• Amy Slagle - Jordan Hill Elementary
• Raye Aragon - Rehoboth Road Middle School 

• School-level Most Valuable Parents for September 2013:
• Anne Street Elementary - Sonya Colquitt
• Crescent Elementary - Seetal Patel & Donn Glass
• Futral Road Elementary - Jennifer Strickland
• Jackson Road Elementary - Tim Eagle
• Jordan Hill Elementary - Linda Reagin
• Moore Elementary - Walter Ragland
• Orrs Elementary - Jim Custer
• Cowan Road Middle- Sharon Gilmore
• Kennedy Road Middle- Rochelle Rodriquez
• Rehoboth Road Middle - Chip Stanford
• A.Z. Kelsey Academy - Carletha Reglan
• Spalding High -Tawana Anderson & Crystal Smarr

• District-level Most Valuable Parent for September

  Mr. Ragland was recognized and received a certificate

  2013:
• Walter Ragland at Moore Elementary.
  Mr. Ragland has logged 40 hours of volunteer work since the beginning of this school year.

Approved...

• All Field Trip Request-
   a. Spalding High School -- 9th -12th grade          Tuskegee University, AL Nov. 9, 2013  
   b. Cowan Road Elem. -- Fifth grade Environmental Study -- Tybee Island, GA -- May 21 -23, 2014              c. Cowan Road Middle School - 7th grade students Disney -- Orlando, FL -- April 29 - May 2, 2014            d. Griffin High School - Advanced Chorus -- London Invitational Festival-- April 13 - 19, 2013            e. Carver Road Middle School-Band/Chorus - Orlando Music Festival -- February 14-16, 2014

• Millage Rate for 2013
• Contribution to Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy
• D.0.T. Project No.: NH000-001-04(062) -- GHS property
• Federal Grant Budgets
• Title II Purchase Approval
• 21st Century Classroom Equipment Purchase
• Rehoboth Road Middle School Title I Purchase
• Carver Road Middle School Title I Purchase
• Purchase Approvals
• All Human Resources Personnel Action Items

Heard presentation on:

• Financial as of July 31, 2013 and August  31, 2013, from Ryan McLemore

Received information on:

• Monthly Facilities and Maintenance Report  -- September 2013
• Construction/Renovations Progress  Summary  190 --  September 2013
• Educator Hall of Fame
• 60th  Anniversary Activities
• FY2014  Survey  Data  on Salaries  and Furloughs  in Selected Systems
• SAT Scores

Received the following announcements...

• October 7- 11, 2013 -- National  School  Lunch  Week
• October 14 -18  -- Griffin  -Spalding County  School  System Fall Break
• October 21 -  November  9, 2013 -- Open Enrollment for Health Insurance and Flex Spending
• Tuesday -- October 29, 2013 -- Board of Education Meeting -- 6:00 p. m.
• Wednesday, October 30, 2013 -- 60th Anniversary Celebration Parade -- 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 1, 2013 -- Football Game -- Griffin High vs. Spalding High -- Kick�off 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 2, 2013 -- Class reunion for Adults -- Memorial Stadium--5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.