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ELEMENTARY
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
Anne Street Elementary
The Employee of the Month for Anne Street Elementary School is Lisa Draper. She is a new teacher that wears a lot of hats; scheduling meetings, writing IEPs, working with teachers, offering suggestions and helpful hints for working with struggling students in their classrooms. Mrs. Draper does all this without complaining with an enthusiasm that is very contagious. When you walk into her classroom that is full of very active students you see Mrs. Draper as the calm force keeping all students on task and engaged. She is one of the first to arrive to school and one of the last ones to leave. We are blessed to have her at Anne Street.
Atkinson Elementary
Atkinson Elementary School would like to recognize Kristi Mathis, Amanda Woods, Rachel Bailey and Chasidy Barden as our Employees of the Month. These teachers did an outstanding job with presenting their classroom/grade level data. The teachers were able to show the growth of their students through the 9+1 assessments and weekly homework assignments. Keep Working!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cowan Road Elementary
Cowan's Employees of the Month are Crystal Glanton and lunchroom staff for receiving a 100% on our health inspection. They work as a team to support student achievement through Student of the Month breakfast. They also look after our staff and give them occasional STRESS REDUCTION snacks. Thank you for supporting our students and staff and always participating in our crazy Spirit Days!
Jackson Road Elementary
Jackson Road Elementary Employees of the Month are Pre-K teachers Mitzi Barcus and Barbara Marcoux. Ms. Barcus and Ms. Marcoux have both been at JRE for over 20 years, and demonstrate a strong commitment to our students every day. Through model teaching practices, these teachers lay a strong foundation for future success for every student they teach. They are dedicated to our school and our families, and we appreciate all they do for our little Brown Bears and Yellow Ducks!
Jordan Hill Elementary
The Jordan Hill Employee of the Month is Eva Parker. Eva is an invaluable asset to the Jordan Hill team. She heads up our Mentor group, works hard on Relay for Life, serves on my new STEM committee, headed up Reindeer grams for our needy families at Christmas and is a leader among her peers. We can always depend on Eva.
Moore Elementary
Lenette Harris is Moore's Employee of the Month and should be commended for a job well done! As the academic coach, she has helped to engage teachers in reflective thinking while critically and analytically internalizing their instructional practices. She has assisted teachers in planning lessons that differentiate instruction to focus on clear learning targets. In addition, she collaborates with teachers to create 9+1 assessments and analyze formative student achievement data to improve student learning.
Moreland Road Elementary
Moreland Road's Employee of the Month is 4th grade teacher Paige Wynn. Page goes above and beyond in her classroom as well as with other duties. She volunteers to help with car-rider duty every day. When everyone else leaves; she stays! Paige is nice, caring, positive, compassionate, generous, and receptive of ideas. She has such a magnificent spirit and positive aura. Moreland Road Elementary is a better place because of Paige Wynn!
Orrs Elementary
Orrs is pleased to recognize Mrs. Jackie Summerville, GSCS Teacher of the Year. She represents the highest ideals of teaching. She richly deserves the recognition and accolades for her excellence, enthusiasm, and concern for students. She has consistently demonstrated that "high expectations bring high performance." While many will only see the plaque and certificate, I look and see the hours and hours of dedication and hard work that went into the honor she has achieved. Congratulations and thank you so very much for the many years of dedicated service and superior teaching that you have given to the students at GSCS.
If you have been recognized as a GSCS Employee of the Month in the past and did not receive your pin please contact Edna Aikens at
770-229-3700 ext. 345 or edna.aikens@gscs.org
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KICK OFF THE
YEAR WITH GOOD HEALTH & WELLNESS AT THE JRE RESOLUTION RUN!
Jackson Road would like to invite you to join them for their Third Annual Resolution Run 5k on
Jan. 10, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.
This year, they will be offering a cash prize of $150 to the school who has the most student and staff participation in the race.
Click HERE to register
online
Click HERE for the flyer/registration form
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2014 PIE PRIZE PATROL VIDEO
Click HERE to view a video
of the 2014 PIE grant recipients.
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Tonga Releford at A.Z. Kelsey Academy being surprised by the PIE prize patrol.
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Nov. 17: Kickoff Day
Nov. 18: Parent's Day
Nov. 19: Education Support Professionals Day
Nov. 20: Educator for a Day
Nov. 21: Substitute Educators Day
Click HERE for information, activities and resources
Nov. 20, 2014
National Parent Involvement Day |
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It was another great week at GSCS.
We celebrated Orrs Elementary teacher, Jackie Summerville, who was formally announced as the 2015 Griffin-Spalding County School System Teacher of the Year. Jackie is a great representative of our profession, her school and our district. We are very proud and happy for Jackie. Congratulations!
I was fortunate to attend the Destination Graduation pinning ceremony for ninth grade students at Griffin High School. The Griffin Rotary Club presented pins to ninth grade students who pledged to graduate in 2018. It was a great ceremony and another example of the community and school system working together for a common objective. Remember our joint goal? GSCS will have an 80 percent graduation rate by the year 2020. I hope we reach or exceed that 80 x 20 goal early with the class of 2018!
Griffin RESA held a technology conference this week. I was happy to see many of our employees in attendance and I particularly took pride in those from GSCS that presented. Eric Harper, GHS engineering teacher, and Lori Dobbs, GHS science teacher, presented "STEM: Removing the Silos" and did an excellent job. Kim Jeffcoat, Crescent Elementary STEM teacher, presented "All for STEM and STEM for All" which was also well received. Though all of the presenters did a wonderful job I was particularly impressed with the presentation done by Cowan Road Elementary teachers, Mandy Colwell and Danielle Booker. I found their presentation "Implementing STEM across the Elementary Curriculum" very impressive and I have asked them and the principal to share this presentation with all of us.
I was most excited about a planning meeting that took place this week. GSCS was awarded a grant titled, "Now is the Time: Georgia Project Aware." This project will assist our school system and local mental health providers in blending education and mental health systems resources to provide a seamless framework of prevention and intervention within a multi-tiered framework. Griffin-Spalding, Newton County and Muscogee County are partnering with the state department over a five year period to receive, in our case, approximately $2 million to improve and implement a new design for the upper tiers of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). Greg DeLuzio is helping GSCS lead that effort and we are now in the beginning phase. This grant is going to help transform what we are doing. We have students and families in our schools in need of additional assistance. It is also exciting to know that at the end of the grant period we will have once again helped form a framework for the rest of the state.
Carver Road Middle School Counselor, Ciedra Pitts, and Language Arts teacher, Tokquiann Goodman, organized and hosted a career fair today for their students. They had 27 people from the community participate representing a variety of fields and professions including a pilot, district attorney, Carver Middle alumni who is now a college athlete, a teacher at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa and staff from our GSCS Technology Department. Students rotated in 30-minute intervals learning about the different careers. It was great to see our middle school students interested, engaged and excited about different opportunities for success in their future.
I was honored to attend the Veterans Day Program held at Jordan Hill Elementary today. Voices of the Veterans, SHS Color Guard, JHE students and staff all collaborated to make this program successful. It was the best patriotic program I have been to in years. Congratulations to JHE music teacher, Patty Banks, for organizing and leading the efforts of this program. Excellent job!
Both high schools have football games tonight with playoff implications. Best of luck to GHS and SHS!
November is a fun month and I am looking forward to getting into the holiday spirit.
Have a great weekend and return ready for another great week of exciting activities at GSCS!
COLDR
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VETERANS DAY
11-11-14
Jordan Hill Elementary
Veterans Day Program
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GSCS ANNOUNCE 2015 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
 Griffin-Spalding County School System's 2015 Teacher of the Year is Jackie Summerville from Orrs Elementary. She will represent the Griffin-Spalding County School System in the state-level Teacher of the Year competition.
Summerville has been a GSCS elementary educator for almost 30 years. She began her career teaching kindergarten at Atkinson Elementary in 1985. After one year, Summerville moved to Beaverbrook Elementary where she taught pre-K, kindergarten, second and third grade over 22 years. In 2008 she transferred to Orrs Elementary where she is currently teaching third kindergarten.
"I was born to be a teacher! To inspire hope, ignite imagination and instill a love for learning," stated Jackie Summerville.
Read more... |
 NOVEMBER PAYROLL DATE Attention All Employees: November payroll will be paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Payroll dates are determined by the date that the State deposits its monthly QBE payment (State revenue) into the system's account. |
EMPLOYEES MUST PURCHASE TICKETS FOR GHSA PLAYOFFS
Next week, during GHSA controlled playoff games, employee badges will not be allowed for admission Tickets must be purchased.
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 BOARD BRIEFS
Click HERE to view the briefs from the November 4th Board of Education meeting.
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BEARDEN'S TIPS ON LEADERSHIP
Understanding Employees" Definitions of Value, Part Seven
Click HERE to view |
2015 OPEN ENROLLMENT/STATE HEALTH & FLEX SPENDING
OCT. 27 - NOV. 14, 2014
LAST WEEK FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO GET IT DONE...
If you are experiencing problems getting into your SHBP account through the portal, you are advised to contact State Health directly: 1-800-610-1863
Call Centers are available to assist with questions and enrollment procedures:
Flex Spending Accounts - 1-877-422-3312
State Health Benefits - 1-800-610-1863
Click HERE for instructions to enroll in Flex Spending and State Health.
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COMMUNICATING WITH  PARENTS
Communicating with parents is an important task. Family engagement research says:
- Communication with parents is the key to bridging the gap in home-school relationships which can ultimately lead to higher student achievement.
- Open dialogue enhances the school culture which will include gains in the support of parents.
- Building a positive relationship with parents from day one solidifies the foundation each student needs to succeed.
The Georgia Department of Education suggests these tips when conversing with parents:
- Begin your conversation by highlighting some of their child's strengths. This will gain parent confidence and reinforce what the student is doing well.
- Have your reference material present (i.e. graded tests, papers, daily behavioral chart). This will help the parent know that you are basing your comments on facts and not just feelings.
Read more...
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TKES PLATFORM REGIONAL HELP SESSION FOR TEACHERS
 Georgia DOE Platform Specialist will conduct face-to-face support for teachers on the Electronic Platform for TKES. Each session will feature information on varied facets of the platform. Participants will need to bring laptops in order to access the TKES Platform. Sessions are repeated (AM or PM) on the dates listed below. Please register online separately for the sessions you wish to attend:
Dates: Jan. 29th & March 19th
Time: 8:30 am to 11:30 am OR 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm*
*January session is offered only once in the PM (1 to 4)
Location: Griffin RESA
Cost: None ($0.00) * Although there is no cost to our regional member systems, participants should register online prior to each session to facilitate planning.
Credit: None
Audience: Teachers in the Griffin RESA Region
Register on-line at www.griffinresa.net
*Registration Deadline is seven days prior to each session
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PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR USING TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT
This information comes from a presentation done at the Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS) Fall Conference 2014 from Dave Edyburn, Ph.D, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
CURRENT EVENTS:
Current events can be incorporated into every classroom.
Displays the front pages of more than 2,000 newspapers worldwide on its website.
Newsmap is an online news aggregator-portal that uses a colorful graphical "treemap" to visually reflect the constantly changing nature of the Google News news aggregator.
Each Friday, Flocabulary brings you the top news stories from the past seven days. It's current events, in rhyme.
TweenTribune is a free, online newspaper for kids, aged 8-15. It is updated daily with stories from the Associated Press that are chosen based on relevancy to pre-adolescents. |
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GSCS NAMES OCTOBER MVP
 GSCS recognizes Ca'Chen Abrams from Cowan Road Elementary as the October district level MVP.
"Abrams is a wonderful asset to the Cowan Road Elementary family. Not only does she volunteer in her son's classroom but she has also organized an entire volunteer force for the school. She plans and implements a volunteer schedule that is beneficial for everyone.
Thank you for all that you do for Cowan Road Elementary and the Griffin-Spalding County School System," stated principal, Natalie Woods.
October's school-level MVPs are...
Anne Street Elementary Angelica Walker
Atkinson Elementary Vanessa Mangham &
Cara Jackson
Crescent Elementary Cathy Moore
Jackson Road Elementary Lillian Walker, Kelley Henderson, LaShondra Berry, Ashleigh Cagle, & Judy Land
Moore Elementary Walter Ragland
Orrs Elementary Irish Angeles
Rehoboth Road Middle Martha Bullard
Griffin High Pamela Epps
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 CARVER ROAD MIDDLE FAIR WINNERS
State Fair Winners:
Jared Sims- 1st place Maryanjeles Macias- 1st & 3rd place Valerie Vargas- 2nd & (2) 3rd places Isabelle Warren- 2nd, 3rd & honorable mention Justin Casteel- participation
County Fair Winners:
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1st place:
(2) Valerie Vargas
Isabelle Warren
Tia Hawkins
Ana Giddings
Mercedes Jones
Toni Miller
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2nd place:
(2) Reggie Fletcher
(2) Toni Miller
Brianna Willis
Asia Peavey
Valerie Vargas
Caleb Chambers
Jared Sims
Lydia Stephens
Phoebe Bradbury
Landon LaTourette
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3rd place:
Jared Dieting
Lydia Stephens
Michael Velasco
Celsey Middlebrooks
Isabelle Warren |
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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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