The GSCS

COMMUNICATOR

System-wide straight talk for employees

August 11-15, 2014

In This Issue

CAMS Flexible Learning Program

Performance Matters Free Webinars

GSCS Test Administration

HR Happenings

Complaints Policy

Clean Air Campaign 2014

School Nutrition Presentation

Statewide Fire Safety

GSCS AUGUST MIDDLE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH

CARVER ROAD
MIDDLE

Ms. Naja Elliott is the

Employee of the Month for Carver Road Middle School.

She has embraced the vision

of the school and has been working over the summer to prepare for a smooth start of the school year. She has been the lead learner on several initiatives. She has the #2185pride!

COWAN ROAD
MIDDLE

Briana Edwards is the August Employee of the Month for CRMS. While transitioning our mobile learning units into the building, she continues to exhibit great teacher leadership qualities. Thank
you, Ms. Edwards for working so hard to assist everyone during this transition!

KENNEDY ROAD
MIDDLE

KRMS would like to recognize Mrs. Kathy White as our Employee of the Month. Mrs. White is the school secretary and a vital part of KRMS. Her job goes well beyond the
school office. She is always
a team player and willing to help out with whatever is needed. Her dedication to
our students, parents and
staff is on display daily.
Thank you Mrs. White for all that you do for KRMS!

REHOBOTH ROAD MIDDLE

Rehoboth Road's Employee of the Month is Robin Holland.
Ms. Holland is a dedicated employee who is willing to
take on any role in order to meet the needs of our
students and their families.
Ms. Holland works hard to ensure all RRMS teachers
and staff have needed information and resources to
be successful. Her cooperative attitude and extensive knowledge make her a most valued employee and
co-worker.

Dr. LaTesa Parker at

Atkinson Elementary is the winner of the $500 Ken Nugent/Atlanta Falcons weekly promotion to local teachers. She is the first winner of this school year!

Click HERE to learn more about about the program.

RECOGNITION'S

GSCS received

Gold recognition
(giving $10,000 - $9,999)

for the 2013-14 United

Way campaign.

Other recognition's included...

Silver ($1,000 - $9,999):

Anne St. Elem.

Cowan Road Elem.

Griffin High

Jackson Road Elem.

Spalding High

Central Office

Bronze (up to $999):

Atkinson Elem.

A.Z. Kelsey Academy

Beaverbrook Elem.

Carver Middle

Cowan Middle

Crescent Elem.

Futral Road Elem.

Maintenance Dept.

Program Challenge

Transportation Dept.

Jordan Hill Elem.

Kennedy Middle

Moore Elem.

Moreland Road Elem.

Orrs Elem.

Rehoboth Middle

2014 Cinema for a Cause

September 21, 2014

All ticket and concession sales will benefit three local charities and Griffin-Spalding Partners in Education is one!

Go to the movies and buy some popcorn on Sept. 21

and support PIE!

IS YOUR SCHOOL UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

7th Annual Griffin-Spalding County United Way Cardboard Boat Race

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014

Dundee Lake Park

The primary purpose of the Griffin-Spalding County United Way's Cardboard Boat Race is to have fun while raising awareness of community fundraising efforts to support the 18 local health and human service agencies funded by United Way. It is a family event where different agencies let their creativity shine through by building boats made entirely of cardboard. These boats will be launched, with crew members aboard, to race the competition at Dundee Lake. Boats will be timed and compete for trophies. Is your school up for the challenge?

Click HERE for the registration form.

3rd ANNUAL SCRUB RUN

SEPT. 13, 2014

HOSTED BY SPALDING REGIONAL HOSPITAL BENEFITING THE BACKPACK FOR KIDS FOOD PROGRAM

Register online by

August 29th at:

https://www.eventbrite.com
/e/3rd-annual-scrub-run-5k-registration-12008394431

I AM SO EXCITED AND I JUST
CAN'T HIDE IT!

Of my five years as superintendent I am most excited about this year (well...other than my first year just because it was "new")! My excitement stems from knowing what we have accomplished, where we are now and where we are going.
We are at, what I call, the "military crest" we are
not at the top yet but all we need is a little push.
I am confident that all of the great initiatives we have
going this year will give us that push to the top.

I am excited about the audio enhancement system we are piloting at GHS, Kennedy Middle and Anne Street. Those schools all have cameras in every room allowing them to record their lessons to replay and share. Like athletes,
these teachers can now watch replays of their instruction to improve their craft. This system also provides audio enhancement which amplifies the teacher's voice so every student will hear the lesson like they were on the front
row. This takes our instruction to another level.

AMP-IT-UP has changed the way we look at STEM.
Our teachers recently attended the AMP-IT-UP Summer Institute and are all excited about continuing AMP-IT-UP this year. Middle school teachers can't wait to introduce
the new math and science modules, lava flow and
packaging challenge, in all four middle schools. Our elementary and high school students will continue sharpening their engineering and manufacturing skills
with robotics. I am AMPed about this year!

Continuing our work on Formative Instructional Practices also excites me. Many of you have finished the first three models and will begin implementing these practices in your classrooms. I am really excited that Performance Matters
will provide new training this year. Now teachers can take ownership of their FIP process.

A PBIS booster training was held this summer for all
schools and I see PBIS going to another level this year.
Our focus is to better define our expectations on behavior and reduce the amount of time students are out of school.
I am excited about the possibilities.

This week our two new curriculum coordinators presented their plans for moving forward to our administrators. I
saw excitement on many faces during their presentation.
IT WAS GOOD!

Can you sense my level of excitement?!?!?!

Do you know what all of these exciting things equal?

An exceptional year!

We have had a great first two weeks of school. Let's dare to make the third even better!

Thank you for all you do.

COLDR

CAMS FLEXIBLE LEARNING PROGRAM

Carver Road Middle School (CAMS) is in its second year as a Title I Focus School. Focus and Priority Schools work collaboratively with parents/guardians, the community, and the school district office to develop a school turnaround plan which implement interventions to respond to the specific needs of the students in our school. One of the interventions provided is a Flexible Learning Program (FLP). Students participated in the Carver Road Middle School FLP program one day per week during a connections class. The day depended on the individual student's schedule. The FLP offered additional support in the area of mathematics with a student to instructor ratio of 10 to 1.
To read the full report click HERE.

The Performance Matter professional services team is launching a great new free webinar series for the upcoming 2014-15 school year. Don't miss out on these exciting new classes!

Click HERE for the webinar schedule

GSCS 2014-15 TEST ADMINISTRATION

In support of student success, the Griffin-Spalding County School System shall implement the assessment program specified by the State Board of Education and the superintendent, including both norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests. The tests shall be administered in accordance with the requirements of the governing agency for the assessment and with a high level of security to ensure an appropriate testing environment, the integrity of the assessment and the accuracy of the data produced by the assessment.
Read more...

EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE

Click HERE for the GSCS Certified & Classified Dress Code
Click HERE to view a PowerPoint
Click HERE for a Q&A concerning the dress code

SICK BANK ENROLLMENT

Click HERE for the Sick Bank Policy.

New Membership: Click HERE to fill out the "SLB Enrollment" and return it to HR no later than August 29, 2014.

Current Members: If you are interested in cancelling your membership, click HERE for the "SLB Cancellation" form and return to HR no later than August 29, 2014.

*New employees of the school system become eligible for membership in the second year of their employment.

SHBP 2015 VENDORS

State Health Benefit Plan has announced additional vendors for 2015.

For details, click the link below:

https://dch.georgia.gov/press-releases/2014-07-01/georgia-department-community-health-awards-health-plan-contracts

COMPLAINTS POLICY

It is the policy of GSCS to address and resolve complaints relating to school matters in an orderly and timely manner. The following procedures will be implemented to document, process, and resolve submitted complaints.

Click HERE to review the Complaints Board Policy.

To access the Complaint Form click HERE

CLEAN AIR CAMPAIGN

Want cleaner air in your school?

Check out the many school programs that The Clean Air Campaign offers.

Clean Air Community Project (Pre-K-12):

Toolkits with educational materials, signs and fun incentives are provided. All programs align with STEM initiatives, science and math standards, and provide opportunities for students to take a leadership role while introducing them to environmental career pathways.

Click HERE for more information and to register today.

GRIFFIN SCHOOL NUTRITION PAST & PRESENT

Invites you to attend the...

IMPACT SPEAKERS SERIES

Presents...

"The Feeding of our Children: Griffin School Nutrition Past and Present"

When: Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Time: 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Where: Stuckey Auditorium (UGA-Griffin Campus)
* Free and open to the public

Join us for a special viewing of the historic General Mills video titled "The School That Learned to Eat" and a presentation detailing how current Spalding County students' nutrition compares to decades ago.