This year GSCS completed online assessments for students for the first time. This went extremely well due to Sheila's communication and leadership. Knowing this was something GSCS needed to move forward Sheila acted early, brought everyone involved into several planning meetings and developed a thorough plan that she continually monitored. She is to be commended for listening to our stakeholders suggestions, valuing everyone's opinion, providing extensive feedback and seeing the plan through. Her open-communication and utilization of knowledge should be traits modeled by all leaders.

Way to go, Sheila!

GSCS SENIORS

BRAVING THE HEAT

TO PREPARE FOR

THE BIG DAY... GRADUATION!

BOE

RECOGNITION'S

6-3-14

GSCS Bus Driver Stephanie Harker was named an Everyday Hero for her outstanding response during a bus accident. Moreland Road principal Stan Mangham, and Assistant Principal Tabitha Lawrence were also recognized for their quick response.

Challenge 24 Winners being recognized at BOE meeting. L-R: Ryley McCord, Atkinson 5th grader and Ashley Hodo, Kennedy Middle 8th grader.

School Lunch Super heroes and their cafeteria managers.

Jackson Road Elementary has been awarded the "Silver" level status with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Completion of the application and recognition was a team effort shared between JRE, the nutrition department, and the after school program. The goal of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and to empower children to develop lifelong, healthy habits. Jackson Road was previously recognized for "Bronze" level in 2011 and "Silver"

in 2012.

GSCS ENRICHMENT CENTER

June 16-20

8:30 AM - 3 PM

1st - 6th Grades

$220 for the week

http://www.campinvention.org/

JUST A GOOD NOTE!

In April and May, the students at the Enrichment Center did quite a bit of research about water cycles, importance of conservation, pollutants and many other things that can affect our drinking water. To complete this study, the 4th and 5th graders walked to the Harry Simmons Water Treatment Plant to see firsthand what happens to water as it is pumped from the Flint River. Students traveled around and through the treatment plant in small groups with lab sheets in hand. They observed the outside storage tanks and had a guide to explain all the processes they observed. They performed a ph test on several different types of water, made observations of operations inside the plant, "walked off the distance" around the above ground tanks, collected data for finding the volume of water in those tanks, and recorded data to compare when they returned to the Enrichment Center. The guides for the tours explained the age of the building, showed pictures of the area in the 1800's, and explained the need for understanding the clean water process. Mrs. Jolene Northrup was one of the engineers that helped plan this adventure. She visited the Enrichment Center in March to explain ideas about how she is involved in developing a plan for the new water treatment plant. What a learning experience we had! I am thankful for a school system that allows us to spread our wings!

P.S. Downstairs in the building we found evidence that it was used as a fallout shelter in the 1950's and 60's. Interesting stuff!

It has finally arrived!

Today at 9:30 a.m. A. Z. Kelsey graduated its students for this school year. At 8:00 p.m. tonight Spalding High School will graduate its senior class. And lastly, tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Griffin High School will graduate its class of 2014. As you read this, you will have just finished a busy week of field days, honor programs and all kinds of recognitions for our students. It has been another successful year, another year that GSCS helped students learn and grow. Congratulations on this year and for the difference you have made in the lives of so many!

We began this year with transportation issues, half-way through the year we had weather issues and here at the end we were faced with extra-curricular issues.

It has been a year of challenges but also of achievements.Our students made academic improvements on the CRCT and on the SAT. Our graduation rate continues to increase. We received the highest award for excellence in financial reporting. We celebrated our 60th anniversary with a grand parade, Educator Hall of Fame and a museum.

As we finish the year I personally want to thank all of you for being a member of TEAM GSCS and for continuing to serve, educate and love our students. I am proud of what you accomplished this year. It is my sincere hope that you are able to do some professional development over the summer but also enjoy some personal time. Take this time to recharge your batteries so you return to us at the end of July refreshed and ready to begin anew.

This will be the last Communicator for the 2013-2014 school year and I want to end saying thank you!

Have a great summer everyone.

Curtis

BOE HEARS BUDGET DETAILS FOR FY2015

The Griffin-Spalding Board of Education studied the FY2015 budget in a work session Tuesday afternoon. The millage rate is expected to remain unchanged at 19.47 mills, the same as the past two years.

The general fund budget is just over $80 million and includes a full academic year of 180 days for students and 190 days for teachers. In addition, there is no change in the health costs and eligible staff will receive a step increase while all staff will receive a 1% pay increase. Staff received a 1% increase in FY2014. Contributions to the Teacher Retirement System will increase for the school district but not for individual staff members.

This budget will allow for 16 new teacher positions, an additional half-time assistant principal at each middle school, coordinators of ELA and math and another technology coach for teachers.

BOARD BRIEFS

Click HERE to view the briefs from the Board

of Education meeting on June 3, 2014.

MAY'S MOST VALUABLE PARENTS

The Griffin-Spalding County School System is proud to recognize the following volunteers as school-level MVP's for May 2014:

Beaverbroook Elementary - Paul Muehlberger

Cowan Road Elementary - Melody Meeks

Crescent Elementary - Lindsey Fluker & Slate Fluker

Futral Road Elementary - Angie Mathis

Moore Elementary - Virginia Akins

Orrs Elementary - Staff of Carver Road Baptist Church

Kennedy Road Middle - Rasheta Warner

Griffin High - Freda Russell

GSCS is proud to announce that Melody Meeks from Cowan Road
Elementary is the May district-level MVP. Mrs. Meeks has shown

Melody Meeks being recognized at the BOE meeting on June 3.

dedication and commitment to supporting staff and students at Cowan Road Elementary not just in May, but for the entire school year. She serves as Cowan's PTO President and is a School Council member. GSCS is very appreciative of all of Mrs. Meeks' help!

Click HERE to read the interview with GSCS MVP of the year, Joe Baldwin from Jordan Hill Elementary. Mr. Baldwin shares his thoughts about volunteering at GSCS.

GSCS COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS

Last summer at the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) conference, Griffin-Spalding County School System leaders attended a training session for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. The training focused on how utilizing a school counselor can impact student achievement and it sparked an idea.

The session stressed the importance of collaboration since school counselors are uniquely qualified to address the needs of students while instructional leaders are essential to the program's success.

Using that concept last fall, all Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) principals and counselors were trained on the Comprehensive School Counseling Program. Together they learned how utilizing school counselors can impact attendance, discipline, grades, test scores, graduation rates and college enrollment. School counselors learned how to implement a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program that will impact student achievement. These programs are standards-based, data-driven, address the academic, career, and social/emotional development of students and are delivered via classroom lessons, small group, individual consultation or indirect services. Implementing these data-driven programs will allow counselors to show how they are making a difference in student performance.