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GSCS
CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
The CO Employee of the Month is Will Nagaj. Will is a key player in managing the technicians and in helping to redesign our system's network infrastructure. His
technical knowledge has made him an asset to our department. If any technician gets stuck on a problem, Will is the go-to-guy who undoubtedly can find the problem and come up with an answer. He won't stop until the problem is solved.
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GHS STUDENT PLACES 2ND IN STATE SCIENCE FAIR
 | Congrats to Griffin High's Jeramie Paz who won second honors at the 2014 Georgia Science and Engineering Fair that was held in Athens, GA on March 28-29.
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ORRS STUDENTS STRIVE TO SUCCEED!
4-H AWARDS
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Congratulations to the
4-H students at Orrs Elementary! They participated in the District Project Achievement Saturday, March 29.
Back row: Jeremiah Leaks (2nd place,Health);Mariah Grier (2nd place, History); Darnevia Lewis (1st place,Public Speaking); Alex McCrary (2nd place, Computer Information)
Front row: Will Samples (Public Speaking); Olivia Ray (1st place, Clothing and Textiles); Angela Haney (2nd place,Interior Design); Maddison Severin (1st place, Between Meal Snacks)
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ACCELERATED READERS
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These students all earned 100 points or more in Accelerated Reader at Orrs.
Back row: Abby Brown, Will Samples, Jordan Favors, Juan Madrigal, Jesus Marin
Front Row:Thomas Goodman, Skylar Greer, Libby Brown, Makai Hays, Catherine Ling
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BETA CLUB
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Orrs inducted 29 Junior Beta Club members. Each student has an exemplary scholastic record, outstanding character, leadership skills, and is service oriented. Keith Simmons, principal at GHS, was the keynote speaker at the induction ceremony. Orrs was also named a National Junior Beta School of Distinction.
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SHS PHOTOGRAPHY
CLUB
SHS's Photography Club visited Catherine Ritchie Park's studio in Griffin. Students were introduced to various forms of photography and were taught how to incorporate it into a strong business. Students enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look as well
as being a part of a photo shoot. Catherine's work can been
seen at mylifephoto.com
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Front row: Ellie Chase,
Emma Chasteen, Laurie Eurich, Amanda Breland, Tanner Howell & Amber Piercy.
Back row: Cameron Spradling, Joseph Moore, Sydney Flatt, Cesi Melgarejo, Maryann Pike, Morrisa Stroud, & Sherry Yarbrough Wyatt.
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JRE RUN FB FEATURE
Jackson Road Elem. was featured on the HealthMPowers Facebook page for their Resolution (Tornado) run in January!
Rain or Shine!!! Check out these fun pictures from Jackson Road Elementary School's 2nd Annual 5K Resolution Run Fundraiser- What a fun, healthy event to involve the students, staff and community AND raise money for the school! A big congratulation to all participants and especially to the Road Runners
(JRE's running club)!!
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CONGRATS TO TWO SHS GOVENOR'S HONOR FINALIST!
After a lengthy and competitive nomination process two SHS students were selected as finalists to participate in the prestigious Governor's Honors Program this summer. Junior Abigail Chestnut was selected
as a finalist in Communicative Arts, and Junior Kimeon Few
was selected as an alternate in the field of Theatre and Performance.
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Greetings! 
Last week we received our 2013 annual report publication. Since I have been superintendent this is the second annual report that has been published and I am very proud of this addition. The school system's motto daring to do better is the focus of this annual report. - Daring to do better in leadership. This section recognizes our school board members and shares GSCS's vision, mission, values and strategy map showing our attempt to improve student achievement.
- Daring to do better in innovation. This section highlights our character education initiatives and gives an example from Project Wisdom. Our efforts in planning a College and Career Academy are also included in this section.
- Daring to do better in academics. This section focuses on our students increase in SAT scores, rise in graduation rates, improvements in the CRCT and use of Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS). Our enrollment data, Teacher of the Year nominees, Classified Employees of the Year and Master Teachers are also featured in this section.
- Daring to do better in our community. This section reports on our school system's financial honors, displays results from our parent survey, and the value of our Partners In Education organization which helps us improve education. This section calls attention to the many relationships we have in the community and our generous charitable efforts.
- Daring to do better in accomplishments. This truly impressive section concentrates on some of the many honors and awards our school system, schools, organizations, clubs, students, teachers and employees received in 2013.
The 2013 Annual Report is an excellent document that highlights where we were in an easy to read format. I highly encourage you to click HERE and read the report for yourself; be proud of all we have accomplished. Thank you and have a great week.
Curtis
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 CHAMBERS NAMED KRMS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL The Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education named Amie Chambers the assistant principal of Kennedy Road Middle School beginning July 1, 2014. Chambers has been a special education teacher for the past 18 years. She has worked with students of all disabilities and grade levels. For nine years Amie served as the lead special education teacher at Spalding High School and currently serves on the leadership team and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team. She was awarded the title of Spalding High School's Teacher of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year. Read more... |
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SALVATION ARMY ANNUAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DINNER
Message from Stacy Wilson, ASP Director and Charity Coordinator
Congrats GSCS! On Tuesday night, schools were recognized at the Salvation Army's Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner for their contributions to the Canned Food Drive that was held last November and December. The Army's food pantry shelves were getting very low. With GSCS's help, they were able to stock the pantry with over 25,000 food items! What an awesome way to show the community how much we care.
Special awards were given to the top three elementary schools and the top three secondary schools. In the elementary category, kudos to Futral Road Elementary (1st place), Cowan Road Elementary (2nd place) and Crescent Elementary (3rd place) and in the secondary category, kudos to Rehoboth Road Middle (1st place), Kennedy Road Middle (2nd place) and Carver Road Middle (3rd place).
Congratulations to these schools and a special thank you to all of you who participated. The difference you make in our community on a day to day basis is incredible. Please know that it is appreciated and does not go unnoticed.
 | | Darlene Jones and Fran Stikes accepted the 3rd Place award for Crescent Elementary School. |
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Principal Larry Jones accepted the 1st place award for Futral Road Elementary School.
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Update from Jullian Rafter, Mentor Program Coordinator
Data through March 2014: - 42 Active Mentor/Mentee Pairings
- 3 Awaiting Placement (background check complete, have not started with student)
- 1 Awaiting Background check
- 14 Mentors have completed the Stewards of Children training (33.33% trained)
- 7 Participating Schools (Anne St. Elem., Atkinson Elem., Moore Elem., Kennedy Middle, AZK, SHS, and GHS)
- 75 Volunteers Trained
- 205 Applicants to program
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Student Learning Objectives
Update from Ellen Lee, Race to the Top Coordinator
Throughout the school system, teachers and administrators are working diligently to develop assessments to measure student progress. Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) are assessments based on content standards and designed to show student growth in a specified instructional period (usually a semester or year). SLOs will be an additional assessment tool to include courses that are not being tested by EOCT, CRCT, and/or other assessments. Although we have administered SLOs for the past three years, the goal is to have an assessment for every course taught in GSCS.
Read more...
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 BOARD BRIEFS
Click HERE to view the April 1, 2014 Board of Education meeting briefs.
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ATTENTION RETIREES
Message from Kathy Gossett, Benefits/Human Resources
This is a reminder for those of you who are planning on retiring at the end of the school year to make sure your retirement paperwork is submitted and received by TRS no later than April 30th to ensure no delay in benefits. If you have any questions, please call 770-229-3700 ext. 353 or email kathy.gossett@gscs.org.
The 2014 GSCS Retiree Luncheon will be held on May 13, at 11:30 a.m., at the Griffin-UGA Pavillion.
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OPEN ENROLLMENT APRIL 7-18
Coming soon...A video will be posted on our benefits website that will contain information presented at the open enrollment meetings held on March 27th.
(Special thanks to Scott Votaw, GHS Studio 7 teacher and his students Travoris Grant and De'Andre Brown. Thank you for your time and your talent in making this video a success!)
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.
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 will be handled two ways:
1.) Self-enrollment through the Employee Benefits Website: www.mygscsbenefits.com OR...
2.) Calling Customer Care at 1-877-422-3312.
The call center will not be available on Friday,
April 18, due to Good Friday.
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 ATTENTION GSCS EMPLOYEES: LET'S PURPLE UP! FOR MILITARY KIDS ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16! The Georgia Department of Education will join other states and organizations across the nation in celebrating April as the Month of the Military Child. During the week of April 14 to 18, many states and communities will take a day to "Purple Up! For Military Kids." Schools and districts are encouraged to designate a day to wear purple and honor the children of military families in Georgia's public schools. You can learn more about the Month of the Military Child and get activity ideas at http://www.monthofthemilitarychild.com. |
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 APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize that we each play a part in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in our communities.
Click HERE to learn more on the National Child Abuse Prevention Month website.
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Most Valuable Parents for March 2014
GSCS is proud to recognize the following volunteers as school-level MVPs for March 2014: Atkinson Elementary- Diane Hilbert Cowan Road Elementary- Pam Duncan Crescent Elementary- Wanda Warham Futral Road Elementary- Missy Evans Orrs Elementary- Gail Buffington Carver Road Middle- Shelia Woodall Kennedy Road Middle- Amy Vandeklashorst Griffin High- Lisa Burden Spalding High- Keith Jones GSCS is proud to recognize Amy Vandeklashorst from Kennedy Road Middle School as the district MVP for March. Mrs. Vandeklashorst helps teachers, staff and students by volunteering daily in the media center. She is always willing to help with anything needed at KRMS.
We appreciate all Mrs. Vandeklashorst does for the student-body, teachers and staff in the Griffin-Spalding County School System.
 | | Vandeklashorst was recognized at the April BOE meeting. |
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KIWANIS FAIRGROUNDS
ClickHEREfor a survivor form
Click HERE for a luminaria form
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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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