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System-Wide Straight Talk for Staff
August 18-22, 2014
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Earlier this week I was at the UGA-Griffin Campus for an Impact Speakers Series focused on school nutrition. They showed a video made by General Mills in 1948 about the school lunch program. In fact, it was about East Griffin Elementary School and how that school, at that time, learned to eat. Teachers came to realize that hunger was an issue and that if they could solve this problem, they could help their students get a better education. They decided to plant a garden. They taught their students how to grow their own food and how to put together a balanced meal. Over the years nutrition has changed, however, it is still an issue. We are very fortunate in Griffin-Spalding that our community has taken another opportunity to show how much they support public education. When Dr. Doris Christopher, assistant vice president for academic affairs and director of academic programs for UGA-Griffin Campus, came to Griffin she brought an idea with her called the Backpack Program. This program provides meals for students to take home with them for the weekends. At the end of each week some of our students are provided with a backpack of meals. The Spalding Collaborative is the agency heading up that program for us now in four of our schools: Anne Street, Atkinson, Moore, and Kennedy Middle. I wanted to share this information with you concerning this program because I don't think many of you are aware of it and just how successful it is. While the program is not unique to Griffin-Spalding it is very unique to the individuals that participate. Last year, 235 of our students were served through this program and there are plans to expand the program even more. Dr. Christopher, The Spalding Collaborative, our community, the schools, counselors, teachers and volunteers make this program possible and deserve special recognition. It is a great program and I am very thankful for our participation. Griffin-Spalding...Daring to do Better. Have a great weekend everybody! COLDR
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 Evelyn Jones (Anne St. Elem. Principal) Laura Jordan (Jackson Road Elem. Principal), Dr. Gloria Brown (Moore Elem. Principal), and Aveory Allen (Atkinson Elem. Principal) all served on the panel at the Impact Speaker Series presentation, The Feeding of our Children: Griffin School Nutrition Past & Present. Resources: Click HERE to view the Spalding County Food Insecurity Fact Sheet (2012)
Click HERE for the survey results from the 1948 film: The School That Learned to Eat |
SMART SNACK STANDARDS
 This week the State Board of Education made changes to the rules for exemption from the nutritional standards of the Smart Snack rules. Nutrition Services is working to amend our policies and procedures to include the new ruling. Stayed tuned...
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 MATH CURRICULUM SEQUENCE UPDATE
From Graham Fletcher, Math Curriculum Coordinator
As we prepare our students for the 21st century we are continually seeking ways to improve as a school system. One area that we are focusing our efforts on improving is mathematics at all grade levels.
The Georgia Department of Education's (DOE) outline possible math course sequences for 6th through 12th grade students. One of the DOE's main requirements is that multiple grade levels cannot be taught concurrently. This is extremely important for us as a community to acknowledge because the math standards were written in a linear progression meaning that all new content builds on previously taught content.
So what does this mean? Read more...
Click HERE to view the GaDOE Secondary Mathmatics CCGPS Math Course Sequence
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VERITIME NEW FEATURE
VeriTime has a new feature to enhance the ability to clock in and out with only one step. Our technology team is currently working on making this available at each site.
 Employees NO LONGER HAVE TO USE THE MOUSE to ensure that the clock event is successful. Employees will be able to clock in and out by scanning their bar-code or manual log in. |
 2015 GSCS TEACHER OF THE YEAR RECEPTION
All former GSCS district Teachers of the Year and each schools 2014 Teacher of the Year are invited to attend the 2015 Teacher of the Year Reception on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 5:15 pm in the GSCS Learning Center. |
 2014-15 PIE GRANTS
The Griffin-Spalding Partners in Education Board of Directors offers grants to teachers in the Griffin-Spalding County School System. It is soliciting grant proposals from individual classrooms, subject area departments, grade levels or teaching teams who wish to initiate programs or projects requiring up to $1,000 in funding.
Timeline: The grant application period opens on Sept. 2, 2014, and closes on Oct. 3, 2014.
Funding: Total amount of funds available is $40,000. The grants will be awarded in two categories: $20,000 for classroom grants and $20,000 for field trips grants. (Separate grant applications must be submitted for each).Projects can request a maximum of $1,000.
Application Process: Applicants submit grants online on the PIE website, http://www.gspie.org. |
 JIM BEARDEN TIP # 2
Upgrading Rules to Preferences...
Thinking Your Way to a New Belief
CONCEPTS...
We've seen that people operating with the victim belief establish rules for what must or must not happen "out there" in order for them to be happy. Whether we call them "pet peeves", attachments, aversions, demands or even addictions, most of us have some pretty well-established criteria that must be met in order for us to be happy.
Read more...
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 DESIGN PROPOSALS NEEDED FOR LOCAL MONUMENT
The Griffin Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee has initiated a project to erect a monument dedicated to our citizens who paid the ultimate price in The Global War on Terror. The monument will be located in Griffin's Veterans Memorial Park along with the other memorials from previous wars. Their goal is to dedicate the monument on Memorial Day 2015. In order to gain support for this project, they are asking local citizens to submit design proposals. The cut-off for these designs is October 17, 2014. They will select and reveal that design at our Veterans Day program in November. More... |
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SPALDING COUNTY FERST FOUNDATION FOR CHILDHOOD LITERACY REACHES MILESTONE
 The Spalding County Ferst Foundation for Childhood
Literacy, which sends free books to Spalding children under the age of five, registered its 1,000th
child on August 20, 2014. The local chapter of Georgia's Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy began in October 2012.
Thanks to generous donations from the community, Griffin-Spalding County clubs, organizations and individual citizens, the group has been able to reach 1,000 children with the free books. "We appreciate the generosity and support of our community," Louisa Melton noted upon the 1,000th registration.
Read more...
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GSCS HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
A.Z.KELSEY
Tiona Horton is AZ Kelsey's Employee of The Month. This is Mrs. Horton's first year at AZ Kelsey and she hit the ground running. In addition to just learning the blended concept, she has also helped forge a path with Edgenuity.
GRIFFIN HIGH SCHOOL
Angela Allen is known for going the extra mile to support our teachers in all they do. She consistently demonstrates a positive attitude and is always there for our students and staff. We want to thank her for working closely with our football booster club this year and for supporting Griffin High School in so many ways. Thank you, Ms. Allen for making "Everything Matter!"
MAINSTAY
ACADEMY
Mainstay Academy's employee of the month is Lauren Flanagan. Lauren is Mainstay Academy's behavior interventionist, PBIS coach, one of our Student Achievement Model trainers and SWIS facilitator. She is generous with her time and energy. She approaches every aspect of her duties and responsibilities with enthusiasm and a positive, "can do" attitude. Lauren is passionately committed to changing program culture & climate and faculty & student behavior through positive behavior support, therapeutic support, collaborative effort and direct instruction. She is one in a MILLION!!!!!!
SPALDING HIGH SCHOOL
SHS would like to
recognize our custodial staff as Employees of the Month. They have worked diligently to ensure that our school learning environment was ready upon the return of our students. Their collaborative efforts show in the hallways, classrooms and around the campus. It continues to be reflected in their efforts to maintain this standard of excellence daily. That is Jaguar Pride! Thank you for your hard work!
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DR. JONES COLD WATER CHALLENGE
Dr. Jones take the ALS cold water challenge. Check out who he challenges!
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ECE AT SHS
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Pictured L-R: Dr. Folds, Kaleigh Whatley, Abigail McMillan, Ka'Lecia Harris, Savannah Crumbley, and Megan Fisher (not shown Brittany Walker).
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Dr. Lea Folds, Early Childhood Education teacher at Spalding High School announced the following students have earned articulated college credit for coursework done in the ECE program at SHS. Students passed the final exam administered to technical college students in Georgia for the ECCE1101 course.
Two of these students are currently dual enrolled and on track to complete their Early Childhood Technical Certificate of Credit before they graduate from SHS.
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Click HERE for our non-discrimination statement
Laura Beaber, Editor
Communications and Partnerships Department
PO Drawer N
Griffin, GA 30224
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