|
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
A.Z. KELSEY ACADEMY
Jabril Willis is the A.Z. Kelsey Employee of the Month. Mr. Willis consistently displays a high level of professionalism as he interacts with staff and students. He is always willing to assist students who need individualized instruction after school. He has also done a great job maintaining our website this year. Mr. Willis is an asset to our school.
MAINSTAY ACADEMY
Mainstay Academy's Employee of the Month is Charlie Roland! During a recent emergency situation, he was quick to follow all established protocol and provide needed emergency treatment information when a staff member was injured. He approaches his duties and responsibilities with professionalism. He does anything asked of him and even tackles "one more thing" with a pleasant and cooperative attitude. Thank you Mr. Charlie!
SPALDING HIGH
Will Bollen is the Spalding High Employee of the Month. He has set the standard for innovative instructional classroom practices. His use of 21st Century learning strategies has been implemented throughout the building. His class is a model for exemplary student-centered learning. He is a leader among his peers, leading professional learning sessions in his content area and in the school.
His commitment to student learning is evident day in and day out. Mr. Bollen, aka "Fire-Cracker Willie," is loved by all and is a true asset to our school.
|
|
SKILLSUSA
On Feb. 4, GHS and SHS students did a great job representing GSCS in the Region 5 SkillsUSA competition held at Southern Crescent Technical College.
GHS
* Jordan Westberry, placed 1st in Masonry
* Justin Hammonds, placed 1st in Residential Plumbing
* Bryson Spencer, placed 2nd in Construction Electrical Wiring
* Katelin Ussery, placed 2nd in Cinematography
|
| |
Pictured (L-R): Bryson Spencer, Jordan Westberry & Justin Hammonds
|
SHS
* Badar Ahmed, placed 1st in Electrical Wiring
* Jeremy Stevens, placed 1st in Carpentry
* Bowen Vaughn, placed 2nd in Masonry
* Austin Cassidy, placed 3rd in Plumbing
|
| |
Pictured (L-R): Bowen Vaughn, Austin Cassidy, Jeremy Stevens & Badar Ahmed
|
* All first and second place winners will advance to the state competition on
March 17-18.
|
|
Congrats to both GHS Robotics Teams for their success in both the semifinal and finals competition. Both teams are advancing to the state competition on Feb. 13. Good luck!
Rookie Team: Trevor Ruhl, Caleb Chambers, Christina Buchanan, Cameron Humphries, Jacob Mitchell and Tommy Yeskonis.
Veteran Team: Tristan Smallwood, Hayden Fletcher, Zak Cox, Lauren-Ann Graham, Jeramie Paz, David Samples and Hunter Kilgore
Special thanks to all the volunteers for their help: Dr. Laura Ergle, Dr. Lee Ramesuer, Lorie Dobbs, Amy Lawrence, Chandra Bell, Chris Bell, Abigail Savage, Russell Samples, Paige Samples, Steve Smallwood, Wanda Smallwood, Gay Nell German, and Paul German.
|
SCIENCE FAIR
|
| |
Pictured (L-R): CJ Futch and Jeramie Paz
|
On Feb.2, GHS students Chanlier "CJ" Futch and Jeramie Paz participated in the Griffin RESA Regional Science Fair.
Jeramie Paz's project, The Use of Biochar to Remove Storm Water Contaminants, won first place and three special awards from Arizona State, Yale and the Navy. He will advance to the state competition.
Mr. Futch's project, The Backyard Furnace, placed third and received a special award from the American Material Science Society.
|
|
RRMS MATH TEAM
RRMS math team won second place for Division I in the Griffin RESA Regional Math Contest.
Congrats!
|
| |
Pictured (L-R): Ariana Floyd, Will Samples, Wesley Partin, Nick Brown and Georgia Anne Harvester
|
|
|
Last month I wrote about some of the new initiatives we will be undertaking in the coming months. One that will begin later this month is the curriculum audit to be conducted by Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK). Per PDK, a curriculum audit provides an independent review of existing processes, programs and services to determine if the district is experiencing success in delivering a quality instructional program that improves student achievement. Just as in any audit, the audit team will review documents, collect data, conduct interviews and review processes to determine how well the district's instructional program meets established standards in five areas: governance and control, direction and clientele expectations, connectivity and equity, assessment and feedback and productivity and efficiency. Those are a mouthful, all going back to measuring the instructional program's effectiveness in improving achievement. We last had a curriculum audit conducted in 1997. Since that time, several sets of learning standards have come and gone. Changes in leadership positions at both the district and school level have been significant. New accountability and assessment practices have been introduced such as TKES, LKES, Milestones, CCRPI, etc. In addition, as a Strategic Waiver District (formerly known as IE2), GSCS will be able to waive certain state laws and regulations in order to better meet the needs of our students. We need to be sure our instructional program is on sound footing as we enter into this contract with the State of Georgia. Finally, with a new five-year strategic plan slated to take effect in a few months, GSCS will use the results of the audit to validate strategies and initiatives included in the plan and make modifications thereto, as necessary. During the week of February 22 - 25, you will see audit team members in your school. They may visit classrooms. If they do, please continue your activities as normal. The team will also solicit responses to surveys of various stakeholder groups. None of this should scare us; we need the information to help us improve moving forward. So, if you are asked to participate in a survey or interview, please be honest in your responses or interactions with the audit team members. Our goal is to improve from which we as professionals and our students will benefit. Have a great weekend!
Jim Smith
Superintendent
|
|
|
BOE BRIEFS
Click HERE to view the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education meeting briefs from February 2.
Pictured (L-R): Cowan Road Elementary Principal Aleshia McCray and Moreland Road Elementary Principal Stan Mangham were recognized for their school being named a 2016 Title I Reward School.
|
|
STAR STUDENTS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to our high school STAR students and the teachers who inspired them!
|
| | SHS STAR Student Iris Smith and SHS STAR Teacher Kristine Ahrens. Iris Smith from SHS was also named the 2016 STAR student for our county. |
|
| |
GHS STAR Student Lance Holden and GHS STAR Teacher Anthony Kluemper.
|
|
NEW FEDERAL FORM #1095
Click HERE to view a video explaining the new Health Insurance Marketplace Statement Tax Form #1095. |
PRE-K REGISTRATION
MARCH 31 - APRIL 8, 2016
Click HERE to view the flyer. |
 SCHOOL CHOICE 2016
The opening date for school choice will be February 8, 2016, and it will close on March 11, 2016. All parents must come to Student Services, 234 E. Taylor Street, to complete the parent request form.
Click HERE for more information. |
|
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR
FINANCIAL FUTURE!
 Discover the tools to create a financial strategy that can help you make sound financial choices throughout your life. The Planning for Financial Security Educational Seminar from VALIC provides the information, tools and resources to help make that planning simpler. VALIC has helped millions of Americans save for their future. Let them help you, too!
Planning for Financial Security Educational Seminar
Date: Friday, February 12
Time: 8am - 11am and 1pm - 4pm
Location: Parent Services Center, room 109
Seminar topics include: Cash Management, Investment Planning, Tax Planning, Risk Management, Retirement Planning and Estate Planning
Register for this seminar in PDExpress. |
|
"SERVICE IS THE RENT ONE SHOULD PAY FOR LIVING ON THIS EARTH."
~ Sherrie Hubbard
|
 MAKE BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL YOUR GOAL This American Heart Month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Million Hearts -a national effort to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the United States by 2017-are encouraging Americans to know their blood pressure, and if it's high, to make control their goal. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. In fact, more than 67 million Americans have high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are 4 times more likely to die from a stroke and 3 times more likely to die from heart disease, compared to those with normal blood pressure.
High blood pressure often shows no signs or symptoms, which is why having your blood pressure checked regularly is important. It's easy to get your blood pressure checked. You can get screened at your doctor's office and drugstores or even check it yourself at home, using a home blood pressure monitor. |
 NEWS FROM GaDOE
- On February 2, State School Superintendent Richard Woods released statements in support of HB801, HB739 and HB402. Click HERE to read the article.
- The GaDOE needs your feedback on proposed new science and social studies standards! To learn more, visit bit.ly/gadoestandards16. Public comment is open through March 14 at 5 p.m.
- Click HERE to view the February 2016 GaDOE Updates Newsletter.
|
 ADOPTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE RULE
In its meeting held January 27, 2016, the Board of Trustees voted to adopt Administrative Rule 513-5-1-.63 entitled "Public Comment at Meetings" under the authority of O.C.G.A. � 47-3-26(b). This new rule outlines the procedure for the public to address the TRS Board of Trustees.
Click HERE to read this new rule.
|
|
|
|
MAIN STREET PLAYERS PRESENTS
February 18 - 28, 2016
Performances: Thursday - Saturday, 7:30pm; Sundays 3pm
Ticket Cost: Adults - $20; Seniors $15; Students $10
To reserve your seat, call 770-229-9916.
Click HERE to read more about Moonlight and Magnolias. |
Click HERE for our non-discrimination statement.
Communicator is edited using the AP Stylebook 2010 edition.
Laura Beaber, Editor
GSCS Communications and Partnerships Department
PO Drawer N
|
|
|
|
