GSCS
CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Ashley McLemore, Director of Federal Programs, &
Ashley Crawford, K-12 Curriculum Director
These ladies are true professionals always willing to step in and help.
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GSCS GENEROSITY CONTINUES TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
Message from Stacy Wilson, GSCS Charity Coordinator
The deadline to collect
non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army is quickly approaching. The Salvation Army Canned Food Drive began on Nov. 4th but will end next Friday, Dec. 12th. We only have one more week to donate canned food to help needy families throughout our community. Your donations will not only help during this holiday season but in 2015 as well.
According to Lt. Josh Hinson, Griffin Corps Officer, "GSCS collected more than 34,000 cans and other non-perishable items last year. You make it possible for the Salvation Army to keep hungry families fed at Christmas time and throughout the year. In 2013, more than 500 households received food and toy assistance from the Salvation Army at Christmas. I want to thank you in advance for the help your staff and students give. Your giving helps to make the Salvation Army a success."
GSCS, Let's Dare to Do Better! Let's help make the Salvation Army an even bigger success by donating more than 34,000 items this year. Rally behind your students this upcoming week and let's show them what the giving hearts of GSCS can really do during this holiday season! Thank you in advance for your generosity and best wishes for a very, Merry Christmas!
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SHOP SAFE!
 SAFETY TIP #1: PARKING LOT SAFETY Lock your vehicle and hide valuables, preferably in the trunk or locked compartment. Before sunrise, and after sunset, park and walk in well-lit areas and carry your keys in your hand. Stay alert to your surroundings and take a moment to glance around for possible suspicious persons, vehicles, and/or situations.
SAFETY TIP #2: STAY ALERT TO SURROUNDINGS
When in crowded places, be alert for potential thieves. Don't overload yourself with packages. Maintain visibility and mobility to avoid potential threats. Be wary of strangers approaching you for any reason. The holiday season is notorious for
"con-artists" who may attempt to distract you with the intention of taking your money and/or belongings. When possible, avoid wearing expensive jewelry and carrying large amounts of valuables, particularly cash.
SAFETY TIP #3: SHOP
WITH FRIENDS
Recognize that there is safety in numbers and arrange to shop with friends and relatives instead of going out alone. Make sure everyone remains vigilant and looks out for each other.
SAFETY TIP #4:
ONLINE SAFETY
Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular. The Internet does have risks so
it is important to take steps to protect yourself when shopping online. The National Cyber Security Alliance recommends that you make sure you have a security suite (firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware) installed and updated with the most current information before shopping online. Also, keep your operating system and web browser up-to-date. Before you enter your personal and financial information for an online transaction, look for signs that the site is secure. This includes a closed padlock
on your Web browser's address bar or a URL address that begins with "http" or
"https". This indicates that the purchase is encrypted or secured. Never use unsecured wireless networks to make an online purchase.
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FREE BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
12-20-14
10 AM - 12 PM
Spalding County Parks & Recreation invites youth ages 10 and under to the City Park, Fairmont Park or Ambucs Park for breakfast, gifts and games with Santa! Click HERE for flyer |
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I have been keeping up with the events in Ferguson, Missouri. When an event like this gets picked up by the national media the ripple effects are far reaching. That became clear to me this week. I received a phone call from a student's grandparent wanting to discuss their experience in our alternative school. The grandparent agreed that the student had misbehaved and understood why they had been expelled from school. However, they are not willing to accept the fact that since there is currently no space available at the alternative school the student's only option is to attend classes online. The grandparent stated that the student was not doing well with the online setting and felt strongly that the student needed to be in school. Then the question was asked, "When we have all these events happening where young black males are being shot by police officers why would you create a situation where this student is on the streets instead of in school? Students not in school are the result of a poor educational system." Wow...there it was. While I continued the conversation talking about our improvement plans for all students, I knew my words were not going to be enough. Until our graduation rate is higher and we show that students are not being arbitrarily expelled from school, people will continue to believe we have an issue.
Working in a school system is hard. Each of you makes decisions everyday that have consequences on students. This is especially true with teachers who have to make snap judgments and decisions that have to be fair to the individual and to the entire class. Teachers, I am going to ask you to do some data research and look at your numbers. How many students have you referred to the office? How many students are absent from your classroom? How many students are not passing your class? This is not to determine if these numbers are because of you or in spite of you but this is information you need to know. Quite often I look at our attendance rate and the number of students expelled and not passing. This data is important and are indicators of success.
Though we are hundreds of miles from Ferguson, Missouri we still feel the ripples. I look forward to the day when the graduation rate for all students is equal and the achievement gap is nonexistent. I anticipate the day when the focus is not on the gaps but rather improving education for all students. It may be a pipe dream but it is my dream. I know that together we can get there.
Have a great weekend!
COLDR
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Check out the new banner on the corner of
S. Sixth and Taylor! 80% graduation rate by the year 2020...together we can do it!
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 STUDENTS CLOSING IN ON STATE AVERAGE IN GHSWT Griffin-Spalding County 11th graders scored well on the 2014 Georgia High School Writing Test. 93.6% of all first-time test takers met or exceeded the standards set by the state. Griffin High had 247 tested with 92.7% who met or exceeded standards for a mean writing score of 220.04. Spalding High had 273 tested with 94.1% who met or exceeded standards for a mean writing score of 220.75. In total the Griffin-Spalding County School System had 529 tested with 93.6% meeting or exceeding standards for a mean writing score of 220.24. The state mean is 224.91 with 96.5% meeting or exceeding standards. "Once again, GSCS students are on the crest of meeting the state average. With only three points difference, I am encouraged that our plan of action for instruction is indeed making a difference in student achievement," said Dr. Curtis L. Jones, Jr., superintendent of schools. |
 2015-16 EMPLOYEE WORK SCHEDULE
Click HERE to view the GSCS
2015-2016 Employee Work Calendar |
BOE BRIEFS
Click HERE to view the Board of Education briefs from the December 2, meeting. |
 MERIT PAY 2015 Congratulations to all GSCS employees who have participated in Race to the Top! It has been hard work, but we now have a much more meaningful evaluation system that is focused on continuous growth. As part of the grant, RT3 systems will pay a merit bonus this summer to the top ten percent of teachers and leaders based on 2014-2015 TEM and LEM scores. A GADOE representative explained, "we have ratings from observational data of their classroom practice around ten standards...who were rated by educators that you selected to be leaders because of your confidence in their professionalism and expertise. We have survey data from students which has a high correlation with the standards the surveys inform and we have quantitative data that supports those observations." Components of the Effectiveness Measures for Merit Pay: All teachers will have a TEM determined in
2014-15
| 2013-14 CRCT/EOCT/SLO
+ Spring 2015 TAPS summative
= 2014-15 TEM
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All principals and assistant principals will have a LEM determined in 2014-15
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2013-14 CRCT/EOCT/SLO/Gap Data
+ Spring 2015 LAPS summative
= 2014-15 LEM
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Read more...
Click HERE to view a Question and Answer document. |
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NEW INTERNAL TRANSFER PROCESS 2015-2016
 Teachers and paraprofessionals requesting a transfer to a different GSCS work location will no longer be required to attend an internal transfer fair. We heard employee concerns, and have revised the process in a way that will be beneficial to schools and employees. Beginning this spring, employees may apply online for any advertised vacancy for the 2015-2016 school year.
Read more...
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CARVER ROAD MIDDLE TO HOST FLL COMPETITION
Carver Road Middle School will host the Regional FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition on Saturday, December 6. The competition will include students from 24 schools representing Bibb, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Troup and Spalding counties. Both elementary and middle school students will participate in the daylong event.
Read more... |
Understanding Employees' Definitions of Value, Part one
Click HERE for handout |
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COWAN ELEMENTARY TEACHER AWARDED GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS GRANT
Cowan Road Elementary third grade teacher, Mandy Colwell, was awarded $500 from the Georgia Agribusiness Council's Dr. Joe B. Crane Memorial Classroom Grant. Mrs. Colwell's application was chosen as one of just four grants funded this year.
Mrs. Colwell's classroom project is to create raised beds behind Cowan Road Elementary School and grow a variety of vegetables throughout the late winter and the spring. After harvesting, they plan to either set up a food bar in the cafeteria so everyone can taste their home-grown vegetables or set up a produce stand outside the school and sell their vegetables to help sustain the gardens in the future.
Read more...
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Bryan Tolar, Georgia Agribusiness Council President, presented the $500 check to Mrs. Colwell and her class on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Cowan Road Elementary Principal, Natalie Wood, and Assistant Principal, Aleshia McCray, also joined in the celebration.
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| REFER SOMEONE TO THE GREATEST PROFESSION ON EARTH!
 On Thursday, December 4, 2014, at 6:00 p.m., the Griffin RESA will conduct the South Metro Atlanta GaTAPP (Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy) Information Session at Griffin RESA located at 440 Tilney Avenue in Griffin, Georgia. The GaTAPP program is designed to attract highly motivated professionals outside the teaching profession who hold a Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/university and are interested in pursuing a teaching career.
Click HERE for the flyer
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NOVEMBER'S MOST VALUABLE
November's GSCS district-level MVP is Zoietia Lindsey from Atkinson Elementary. She is a new member of Atkinson's school council and has participated in Superintendent
Advisory Council meetings.
 "Ms. Lindsey is a valuable asset to Atkinson. Her volunteerism has an incredible impact on the students at our school, our district and our community. I am thankful for all that she does," stated Atkinson Principal, Aveory Allen.
Zoietia was recognized at the December 2, Board of Education meeting and received a gift certificate donated by the Griffin Dwarf House.
Read more...
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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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