|
GSCS HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
A.Z. KELSEY ACADEMY
Gabriel Burnette is A.Z. Kelsey's Employee of the Month. He has diligently worked on Georgia Milestone testing for middle and high school students while managing a myriad of other responsibilities. He works hard to assure that the students at A.Z. Kelsey have their needs met. He is an asset to AZK.
GRIFFIN HIGH SCHOOL
The Griffin High School Employee of the Month is Pamela Davis, assistant principal of instruction. She has demonstrated great leadership in working through our spring testing season. Her unwavering dedication to the students, faculty and staff is second to none.
SPALDING HIGH SCHOOL
We would like to recognize Rynn Goldstein as the Employee of the Month at Spalding High School. He is a teacher and Data Assessment Specialist here at SHS. Mr. Goldstein challenges his students to think differently about the world and how they live in it and perceive it. He encourages critical thinking and problem solving as the approach to learning and life. He is respected by students, peers and parents. He goes out of his way to assist in any way possible. He is an advocate of students and Spalding High School. He focuses on the positive and looks to build a foundation from the good. He works with staff and administrators to help analyze and interpret data. He helps us use data to make informed decisions that are best for students, teachers and the school.
|
SALVATION
ARMY HONORS
GSCS AT
ANNUAL
APPRECIATION DINNER
GSCS received special
recognition at the Salvation Army Annual Appreciation Dinner for collecting 25,994 food items during the Salvation
Army's Annual Food Drive.
The Food Drive took place
Nov. 2- Dec. 11, 2015.
Six schools received awards for leading the school system in the amount of food items collected.
Congratulations to following schools:
Elementary Category
1st place- Futral Road Elem. (4,471)
2nd place- Anne Street Elem (3,619)
3rd place- Crescent Elem. (3,240)
Secondary Category
1st place- KRMS (2,123)
2nd place-RRMS (1,455)
3rd place-Carver Road Middle (510)
Having students participate in projects like the Salvation Army's Annual Food Drive helps students understand the concept of being "contributing members of society" which is part of our GSCS Vision. Thank you to all who participated
and thank you for the positive difference you continuously make
in our community.
|
EVALUATION OF VISUAL ARTS, THEATRE ARTS AND HEALTH EDUCATION
STANDARDS
Message from GaDOE Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Caitlin McMunn Dooley, Ph.D.
The State Board of Education is asking for your help in evaluating the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) in Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, and Health Education. Teachers will be able to review and provide recommendations for each Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, and Health Education K-12 standard through a survey beginning on Monday, May 9, 2016, through Tuesday, June 7, 2016,
5:00 p.m. EDT.
Click HERE for the visual arts / theatre arts survey link.
Click HERE for the health education survey link.
If you need additional information regarding the Visual Arts and Theatre Arts surveys, please contact Jessica Booth at jbooth@doe.k12.ga.us.
If you need additional information regarding the Health Education survey, please contact Therese McGuire at tmcguire@doe.k12.ga.us or Mike Tenoschok at mtenoschok@doe.k12.ga.us.
|
GSCS VIRTUAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
The Griffin-Spalding County School System will host three informational sessions for its Virtual Program. Students in grades K through 9 who are not currently enrolled in the district can register for online courses.
Information sessions will be held in the Board of Education meeting room at 216 South Sixth Street on these dates:
Wednesday, May 11 at 6 pm
Tuesday, June 9 at 3:30 pm
Thursday, July 14 at 3:30 pm
Required orientation sessions are set for May 17 and July 20 at 3:30 pm.
Students are expected to work on their lessons 20 hours per week in grades K-3 and 25 hours per week in grades 4-9.
|
|
|
|
 END OF SCHOOL/ GRADUATION
PLANS ANNOUNCED
Graduation for Spalding High is May 26, 8 pm at Memorial Stadium while Griffin High students will graduate on May 27, 7 pm at Memorial Stadium. AZ Kelsey students will graduate; May 26, 9:30 am in the Griffin Auditorium.
Entrance tickets are required for all graduations. Students will receive their tickets during graduation practice the week of graduation. Gates open one hour prior to the graduation ceremony. Police and deputies will be on hand to guide and direct you. Handicapped parking and drop off is accessible by using 4th Street. Poplar Street from 3rd to 6th will be pedestrian only. 5th Street will be blocked at College Street. Parking behind the stadium is restricted to those with passes.
There will be an information tent between the two entrance gates to the stadium. School board members will present the diplomas.
Baccalaureate for GHS and AZK is May 25, 7 pm at the First Assembly of God. Spalding High will have their baccalaureate at First Baptist on May 22, 3 pm.
Griffin High has 267 seniors, Spalding High 239 seniors and AZK 30 seniors.
The last day of school for GSCS students is May 26.
Click HERE to view the GHS and SHS graduation maps.
|
|
|
RESEARCH ON ASSESSMENTS
 A survey commissioned by the not-for-profit Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) in partnership with Gallup reveals educators, parents and students want a balanced approach to K-12 testing, utilizing a variety of academic assessments with a strong preference for those that improve teaching and learning.
Additional key findings include:
- Three in four students (75%) believe that they spend the right amount of time or too little time taking assessments, as do more than half of parents (52%). In contrast, teachers (83%), principals (71%) and superintendents (79%) say students spend too much time taking assessments.
- More than six in 10 parents (61%), say they rarely or never have conversations with their child's teacher about assessment results.
- Teachers in low-income schools are more likely than those in middle- and high-income schools to say they are prepared to interpret assessment results (43% vs. 31%) and modify teaching based on assessment results (49% vs. 33%).
- Parents need more information about assessments.
- Gaps in understanding of the purpose of assessments remain.
The report makes a number of recommendations and also touches on the opt-out movement and need for more time to communicate and collaborate at all levels. The time is needed to Get It Right so that education leaders can prove that we learned some lessons with the roll out of the Common Core policies of a few years ago.
-Make Assessments Work for All Students: Multiple Measures Matter
|
2016 RETIREE FIESTA
Congratulations to the 2016 retiring employees of the Griffin-Spalding County School system. A recognition luncheon was held for these employees on May 10 at the UGA Griffin Campus Pavilion.
Click HERE for a list of the 2016 retirees.
Click HERE to view pictures taken at the fiesta. |
 ARE YOUR FINANCES A MESS? NEED HELP? Pull it together with a no-cost financial plan from VALIC Financial planning looks reality in the face, then develops a workable plan of action to help you... - organize your financial priorities
- achieve interim goals without shortchanging retirement saving
Your VALIC financial advisor will guide you through the following steps: - Take stock of your current situation
- Visualize the lifestyle you desire - and estimate the cost
- Determine what it will take to get you from today to your desired objectives
- Set goals: long term and short term
- Develop a plan of action: saving strategy, spending strategy, managing risk
- Implement the plan: integrate the plan into your life
Your VALIC financial advisor will work with you every step of the way - from the planning stage through the inevitable tweaks caused by lifestyle changes, and throughout your retirement. VALIC is here to help. Schedule a free financial planning consultation today. |
|
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where to go."
~ Dr. Seuss
|
PROJECT-BASED INQUIRY LEARNING ONLINE COURSE
Georgia Tech Center for Education Integrating Science,  Math and Computing (CEISMC)
Description: This 30-hour facilitated online course will
support teachers in using project-based inquiry learning (PBIL) to enhance conceptual understanding, critical thinking, scientific reasoning and problem solving. The course will cover several important topics in PBIL including standards-based design, formative and summative assessment and development of science process skills along with science content knowledge. Participants will complete a PBIL first-hand, analyze PBIL curriculum and resources to develop design acumen and begin designing a PBIL unit for their classroom.
Who: Any GSCS educator interested in inquiry-based learning. You can work in cohort groups at your school to complete the coursework.
Dates: June 1-30, 2016 with an optional face-to-face workshop on June 7.
Stipend & CEUs: You will receive a $300 stipend for course completion along with three CEUs.
Register: Visit https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/discovering-project-based-inquiry-learning. Use coupon code AMP2016 when asked for payment.
Questions: Email sabrina.grossman@ceismc.gatech.edu.
Click HERE to view the flyer. |
CAREER DAY AT JRE
Staying true to our mission of empowering students to graduate college and career ready Jackson Road Elementary held Career Day this week. All JRE students rotated through stations and learned about local colleges/universities and many different career paths such as cosmetology, construction, photography, emergency response, finance, technology, etc. 
|
 TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER BARBECUES
Every year, 7,000 Americans are injured while using backyard barbecue grills. It's usually a case of good products used incorrectly.
Here are ten do's and don'ts that will keep you from becoming a statistic:
| Do: | Don't: | |
1. Keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your house.
2. Clean your grill regularly
3. Check for gas leaks.
4. Keep decorations away from your grill.
5. Keep a spray bottle of water handy.
6. Keep a fire extinguisher within a couple steps of your grill. And KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
|
7. Turn on the gas while your grill lid is closed.
8. Leave a grill unattended.
9. Overload your grill with food.
10. Use a grill indoors.
|
Click HERE to watch a video demonstrating the do's and don'ts of grilling. |
GHS SENIOR WALK
GHS Class of 2016 kicked off their graduation activities with their annual Senior Walk this week.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
