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GSCS
HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
A.Z. KELSEY
Dr. Joet Williams wears many hats at AZKA. Being a small staff and very limited, Dr. Williams who is ELL certified agreed to take on the responsibility of teaching the ELL students in addition to her other duties. Dr. Williams also teaches 6-8 grade English and is the SPED teacher for 6-8. AZKA would like to thank her for her hard work and dedication to the school.
GRIFFIN HIGH
GHS nominates Dr. Kennedy Holt as the March Employee of the Month. Not only does he contribute as a PE instructor but also works tirelessly as the athletic director. He works countless hours and always with a positive attitude.
MAINSTAY ACADEMY
Mainstay Academy's Employee of the Month is David Owen. Mr. Owen demonstrates all the skills needed to be an excellent GNETS teacher...
SPALDING HIGH
Spalding High School is proud to have Dee Joiner as our Employee of the Month! Mrs. Joiner is always willing to give a helping hand to students, teachers and parents! She willingly gives up her planning period when a fellow teacher needs a class covered. She offers tutoring to math students. She organizes a great prom which everyone who attends enjoys. Thanks, Mrs. Joiner for going the extra mile! Go Jags!
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SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENTS
Congrats to the
GSCS teachers that
were awarded $1,000 through the Partners In
Education Tuition
Reimbursement
Scholarship.
- Chad Pruitt - SHS
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Joanna Johnson - Jordan Hill Elem.
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Chuck Martuzas - SHS
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Jessica Lalumiere - Futral Rd. Elem.
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Emily Johnson - Cowan Middle
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Brandi Davis - Cowan Middle
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Rebekah Stewart - Jordan Hill Elem.
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Miriam Leigh Jackson - GHS
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Josh Akins - SHS
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Debbie James Perry - Futral Rd. Elem.
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Donnell Cox - Cowan Middle
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Tiana Fowler - Jackson Rd. Elem.
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Elise Cona - SHS
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 CRESCENT'S 4TH ANNUAL COUGAR CHASE 5K & FUN RUN
APRIL 3, 2014
6 P.M.
Click HERE for flyer & registration
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GHS & SHS
THINK PINK
SOCCER GAME
Come support your
local high schools
and help raise money for breast cancer
related charities!
APRIL 11, 2014
Girls at 6 PM
Boys at 8 PM
Buy a t-shirt for only $10! (See design below)
To order a shirt or for more info. contact
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Jackson Road Elementary raised $540 for Pennies for Patients (sponsored by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).
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GRIFFIN-SPALDING DRIVER ASSOCIATION
PRESENTS THEIR 6TH ANNUAL BUS ROAD-E-O
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A FESTIVAL FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS!
APRIL 4, 2014
5 PM - 8 PM
ORRS ELEM.
TICKETS - $1.00 |
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Greetings! 
This week GSCS received a visit from the US Department of Education. The US DOE representatives came to our district to discuss our implementation of Race to the Top (RT3). The US DOE team met with teachers, principals and district staff in three separate meetings. The district interviews provided another perspective of the State's progress and helped to identify areas where the US DOE might provide technical assistance to Georgia to support the effective implementation of its reform plans. The teacher and principal interviews discussed program implementation by the district and the effect of these reforms on classrooms and educators. I participated in the district interview which included the Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, members of the Teaching and Learning Department, our Race to the Top Coordinators and our Federal Program Director. The main topics of discussion were... - Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) - implementing and support for the Common Core.
- Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) - creating more rigor in schools and how GSCS uses Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) and Formative Instructional Practices (FIP) in our current curriculum.
- Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES)/Leader Keys Effectiveness System (LKES) - development, implementation and sustainability of our program for inducting great teachers and leaders and how the state supported our efforts to recruit and retain the right people.
- Lowest Achieving Schools (LAS) - GaDOE helped facilitate our school improvement efforts and how RT3 funds were used in professional development to improve the capacity of our district, specifically our schools designated as lowest achieving.
- Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) - technology and creating a SLDS and how the state received input from us and moved forward providing the current system.
I was glad that all levels had the opportunity to share their thoughts on these important topics.I was also really pleased with the frankness of the participants and the depth of the questions asked by the US DOE. The greatest reform effort that we have put in place over the past four years is our implementation of TKES/LKES and other components of RT3. Race to the Top is not something that was done just in compliance. It has changed the way we educate our children. RT3 has changed the way we operate and our culture. I wanted you all to know about our visit from the US Department of Education and their efforts to help monitor and improve RT3. It is important for us to know that this is a joint effort between GSCS, the state and the federal government; we are all in this together. This visit demonstrates that RT3 is much more than a funding source; it is now the standard for schools. If you have any questions concerning Race to the Top please email ashley.mclemore@gscs.org or me. Special thanks to the teachers and administrators that participated in the review... |
Nancy Atchison
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Teacher, Futral Road Elem.
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Marnie Bailey
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Teacher, Jackson Road Elem.
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Marcy Blackmon
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Teacher, Anne Street Elem.
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Quenton Davis
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Teacher, Cowan Rd. Middle
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Chris Dunn
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Teacher, Spalding High
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Tokqiann Goodman
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Teacher, Carver Rd. Middle
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Dashia Josey
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Academic Coach, Beaverbrook Elem.
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Brandon Poole
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Teacher, Griffin High
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Anna Rivera
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Teacher, Jordan Hill Elem.
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Leonora Clarkson
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Principal, Cowan Rd. Middle
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Evelyn Jones
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Principal, Anne Street Elem.
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Larry Jones
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Principal, Futral Road Elem.
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Laura Jordan
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Principal, Jackson Road Elem.
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Dexter Martin
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Principal, Orrs Elem.
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Keith Simmons
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Principal, Griffin High
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Lindy Scott
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Principal, Rehoboth Rd. Middle
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Thank you and have a great week.
Curtis
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 SPALDING HIGH'S AMANDA BRELAND NAMED GSCS MEDIA SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR As the result of a competitive process, Spalding High School's Media Specialist Amanda Breland was named Griffin-Spalding County School System's Media Specialist of the Year. First nominated by her principal, Derrell Jeffcoat and then selected by an independent panel, Breland was identified as the school system's candidate for the state competition. In the initial nomination for the award, Jeffcoat wrote "Mrs. Breland is a hands-on educator with a drive to assist wherever the need may be. She is an invaluable asset for promoting technology, leading the way in staff development and enthusiastically encouraging our students to love reading and to share their talents." Read more... |
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GALILEO PASSWORD CHANGE
 Old password: fetch
New password: pardon
Effective: 03/24/2014 - 05/17/2014
GALILEO Homepage: http://www.galileo.usg.edu
GALILEO Kids' Page: http://kids.galileo.usg.edu
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APRIL HEALTH TIP
 A 15-minute walk after eating can lower your blood sugar level for hours and significantly reduce your risk of diabetes. More importantly, taking a short walk after meals can be much more effective at preventing blood sugar spikes than taking a
45-minute walk daily. What better way to get started than National Walking Day on April 2? |
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HR HAPPENINGS
2014 STATE HEALTH NEWS:
SHBP 2014 plan design changes became effective on March 14, 2014. If you have not received a new insurance card, please contact Blue Cross Blue Shield at 1-855-641-4862.
Click HERE for full article.
OPEN ENROLLMENT
APRIL 7-18, 2014
An informational video will be posted on the Benefits website by Friday, April 4. The video will include information discussed at the open enrollment meetings held Thursday, March 27.
To begin viewing your options visit our Employee Benefits Website: www.mygscsbenefits.com
- Hover your mouse over the "employee benefits" tab and it will pull down the list of benefits. Click on the benefit you wish to view to find summaries, rates, and contact information.
- Benefits available during Spring Open Enrollment include:
- Dental (there will be a slight increase in the rates) - Vision (no change) - Life Insurances (no change) - Cancer/Critical Illness Insurance (no change) - Disability (no change)
Enrollment can be handled two ways:
- Self enrollment through the Employee Benefits Website. OR...
- Calling Customer Care at 1-877-422-3312.
If you are satisfied with your current coverage you do not have to do anything. It will automatically roll-over beginning July 1st. We encourage you to make sure you are aware of your current coverage's. This is also a good time to update your personal contact information and beneficiary information.
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GSCS TEACHERS: IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER...
An e-mail written to Dr. Jones and Stan Mangham by GSCS parent and teacher
I just wanted to share my praise for Mrs. Kellan Harwood, Pre-K Teacher at Moreland Rd. Elem. school. While her teaching is amazing and she does her job so incredibly - it's the little things that really make a difference.
 Being a teacher (working mom) means that often I don't get to go do things, like go have lunch with my children or see them during activities that happen on school days. But thanks to Mrs. Harwood - today was different...
Read article...
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FEBRUARY'S GSCS MOST VALUABLE PARENT SHARES THOUGHTS
Message from Jessica Layfield, Parent Engagement Cordinator
Mrs. Brenda Stoerkel from Crescent Elementary was
the volunteer selected as the Griffin-Spalding County School System's Most Valuable Parent (MVP) for the month of February.
Mrs. Stoerkel shares her thoughts about volunteering with GSCS. Read more...
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CERTIFIED TEACHERS NEEDED TO TUTOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE
The Educational Programming, Assessment and Consultation Unit of DFCS is a unit designed to provide supplemental educational supports to school-aged children in foster care. They are presently recruiting certified teachers to provide part-time (evening and weekend) tutoring to foster children in Spalding and surrounding counties for the 2014/2015 school year.
Our combined efforts to provide educational support to children in foster care will result in their educational stability and success!
Click HERE for flyer and application form
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REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF COMMON CORE RESPONSE REQUIRED
Governor Deal has asked the State Board of Education (SBOE) to oversee a review and evaluation of the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) in English/Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This is an invitation and opportunity for superintendents, teachers, principals, curriculum directors, etc., to offer specific suggestions related to the revision of Georgia's current standards.
Because of your knowledge and expertise of Georgia's standards, it is critical that we have your input in this process. Please provide us with your specific recommendations regarding the content, wording, and sequencing of the standards as well as your thoughts regarding what should remain unchanged.
Click HERE for survey
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 LEARN TO RAISE A COMMUNITY OF HEALTHY CHILDREN
Learn about treatments used for children with ADHD and other behavior disorders from our keynote speaker and hear from expert speakers on a variety of topics affecting our children such as: low birth weight and premature babies, infant development, family nutrition, literacy, parenting skills, child abuse prevention, child development, childcare providers and pediatric health topics including audiology, asthma, and immunizations.
Click HERE for full flyer
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Click HERE for our non-discrimination statement.
Laura Beaber, Editor
GSCS Communications and Partnerships Department
PO Drawer N
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