GSCS COMMUNICATOR
System-wide Straight Talk for Employees
May 27 - June 3, 2016
In This Issue
GSCS ELEMENTARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
SLDS TEACHER PAGEVIEWS
CONGRATS GSCS CLASS OF 2016
GSCS INCLUSION PRE-K SUCCESS
CRESCENT TEACHER FINALIST FOR PRE-K STATE TOTY.
GSCS AWARDED SUMMER TRANSITION PROGRAM
CAMS TEACHER SELECTED AS TAPP TEACHER OF THE YEAR
2016 PIE GOLF TOURNAMENT
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET.... READ FOR SUCCESS!
FIREWORK SAFETY MONTH
GSCS ELEMENTARY
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
ANNE STREET ELEMENTARY
Anne Street Elementary would like to recognize Aubrey Dixon for being selected Teacher of the Year for the 2016 - 2017 school year.
 
ATKINSON ELEMENTARY
Atkinson would like to recognize Janai Jester for ensuring our Honor's Day Program was a success.  Ms. Jester organized the many awards our students received. This was a very time consuming process and we are thankful for the extra time she spent working on this task.  Ms. Jester is also our classified staff Employee of the Year.
 
BEAVERBROOK ELEMENTARY
Robin Shepherd is the Employee of the Month for Beaverbrook!  Robin has always been there when we needed her assistance! We have counted on her professionalism and guidance during placement meetings.  Robin is not assigned to Beaverbrook next year and we will all miss her support and encouragement!
 
CRESCENT ELEMENTARY
Michael Stanford, our school tech, for his quick wit and patience when tickets are basically due to "USER ERROR." He has been proactive with checking up on us when it storms and our internet seems to be shaky. We appreciate Michael for all he does to help us become better digital learners.

COWAN ROAD ELEMENTARY
Tonette Little, Coach Barkley, Coach Farr, Mr. Ellis, Tonya Jones and Laura Forehand created an AMAZING 2016 Field Day/Career on Wheels for the whole school! Students and staff loved it and learned a lot! Cowan Road Middle School's Beta Club students were awesome and really helped us!

FUTRAL ROAD ELEMENTARY
Christina Blalock is Futral's Employee of the Month. Although new to our school, Mrs. Blalock runs the front office like a seasoned veteran. She is a fast learner and always remains calm under pressure. Every task she completes is done meticulously and professionally. She always has a smile on her face and a positive cheerful attitude! Thank you Mrs. Blalock!

JACKSON ROAD ELEMENTARY
JRE's Special Education Team of Joan Baldridge, Robyn Walker and Amanda Gregg are the Employees of the Month. They have been incredible at juggling many things this month.  They are always on top of serving students, meetings and paperwork. They go above and beyond to know all of our students and support our vision and mission. They are very important and valuable members of the JRE team and we feel fortunate to work with them.

JORDAN HILL ELEMENTARY
The Jordan Hill Employee of the Month is Coach David Brewer. Coach Brewer does an excellent job with our PE classes and the students love it. Coach Brewer assists with duties both in the morning and in the afternoon. He greets our car-riders in the morning and helps with our Day Care vans in the afternoon. He is part of our PBIS team and also our School Council. He handles every day with a positive attitude. Way to go Coach!
 
MORELAND ROAD ELEMENTARY
Employees of the Month for Moreland Road are Kellan Harwood, Jody Singletary and Brittany Etheridge. They did an outstanding job with our very first school play.  The performance was great and well organized. They put in many hours to make sure this production was successful. We had a huge turnout for both nights of the performance. Thanks ladies for the great job you did!

ORRS ELEMENTARY
Orrs Employee of the Month is Katie McKinney. Katie makes our school a happier place. She goes out of her way to make everyone smile and boost employee morale. Thank you Katie for being such a great cheerleader for Orrs Elementary!
SLDS TEACHER PAGEVIEWS
Congratulations to Moore Elementary, Rehoboth Road Middle, Carver Road Middle and Crescent Elementary for having the most teacher page views this year!

Click HERE to view the full list of schools and teachers.
GRIFFIN-SPALDING COUNTY OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY
May 30, 2016
11:00 am
Come rain or shine to honor the "Forgotten Soldiers" of WWI at the beautifully renovated Veterans Memorial Park.
 
For more details click HERE to view the event flyer.
2016-17 GSCS CALENDAR

Click HERE for the 2016-17 GSCS school calendar.


The 2015-16 school year seems to have gone by quickly and is coming to a very busy end.  School honors programs and graduations are in full swing. I have been impressed by our students at each one I attended. We have plenty to celebrate with our students and faculty based on accomplishments this year. As I write, graduation exercises for both primary high schools have yet to occur. But I know they will be great events fulfilling many of the hopes and dreams parents have held for their children for many years. 
 
We also are in a time of preparation for the 2016-17 school year. Our new five-year strategic plan will take effect on July 1 and will include major focus on literacy, professional development and college and career readiness. The school calendar for next year will include 175 days for student instruction with five days set aside for professional development on topics related to strategic plan initiatives along with the normal allotment of days for pre and post planning. The Griffin Region College and Career Academy (GRCCA) will also open in August. Registration totals have already reached our target, and a little over, for the opening year.  Work on the old Flynt Middle School building will begin this summer transforming the two story structure into the home of the GRCCA.  Students from Butts and Pike counties will be joining Griffin-Spalding County students in this new venture. In addition, work continues to fill staffing vacancies due to retirements and resignations.
 
The budget for 2016-17 will total over $125 million for all funds. The general fund, accounting for daily operations, makes up over $83 million of the total. The budget includes a full year work calendar for all staff. Expenditures include longevity steps for staff on the salary scales plus a one and a half percent cost-of-living raise across the board. Teaching positions are being added for the purpose a providing better access to collaborative planning, class size reduction and support for certain academic initiatives. The construction fund will be busy with work this summer on school renovation projects and the aforementioned old Flynt Middle School building to house the GRCCA in 2017. Funding for these projects comes from the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (eSPLOST) approved by county voters last year.
 
I hope you will have a wonderful summer keeping the three R's in mind - Rest, Relax and Return. Please find time to rest and let your bodies and minds recuperate from a busy year of activity. Relax to regain perspective from a year of intense focus on your students and responsibilities. And, return in late July ready to meet the needs of a new group of students. For those who are retiring, I wish you a wonder life in retirement. Thank you for your dedication to students over the years. You will be missed. And to all GSCS staff, thank you for a great year.

Enjoy the summer!
Jim Smith
Superintendent
FROM PRE-K TO SENIORS: YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Thank you GSCS teachers and staff for your commitment and dedication to our students! What you do makes a difference everyday!

CONGRATS GSCS CLASS OF 2016
Pictured (L-R): SHS Valedictorian Ivan Lopez and SHS Salutatorian Henry Hart
The Class of 2016 is proud to announce their valedictorians and salutatorians:
 
Griffin High School
Sidney Willis - Valedictorian 
Ryan Hall- Salutatorian
 
Spalding High School
Ivan Lopez Castillo - Valedictorian
Henry Hart - Salutatorian

Scholarships:
GSCS Seniors were awarded over $2 million

Honor Graduates:
Click HERE to view the GHS Honor Graduates list.
Click HERE to view the SHS Honor Graduates list. 
GHS Valedictorian Sidney Willis with GHS Principal Dr. Darrell Evans
GHS Salutatorian Ryan Hall with GHS Principal Dr. Darrell Evans

GSCS INCLUSION PRE-K SUCCESS
This year, the Griffin-Spalding County School System's (GSCS) Pre-K Program implemented an inclusion class model at Jordan Hill Elementary. In the Pre-K inclusion class, students with special needs take part in the general education curriculum alongside their typical peers.
 
"The inclusion of students with disabilities in early childhood settings provides additional learning opportunities for all students. Research shows that students with disabilities served in a high quality inclusion class can make significant academic, social and emotional
growth which impacts them later on during their academic career," stated Director of Special Education Services and Supports Shelia Mincey.

Jordan Hill Elementary Pre-K Special Education Teacher Sheila Graham said, "In our classroom students with and without disabilities learn with and from each other. It has been amazing to witness the benefits of inclusion on all students, those with disabilities and without. We have had a successful first year with a majority of our special needs students moving to regular kindergarten classes for the 2016-17 school year."
CRESCENT TEACHER FINALIST FOR
PRE-K STATE TOTY
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) announced that Crescent Elementary Pre-K Teacher Kelly Harris is among six state-wide finalists for Georgia's 2016 Pre-K Program Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced this fall during Georgia's Pre-K Week, Oct. 3-7.

















"My favorite animal is the turtle. The reason is that in order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to be times in your life when you're going to have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges and instead of hiding in a shell, you have to go out and meet them."

~ Ruth Westheimer
GSCS AWARDED SUMMER TRANSITION PROGRAM
Through a competitive grant process, the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) has been awarded one Summer Transition Program (STP) from the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). The GSCS Summer Transition Program will be held at Cowan Road Elementary School beginning June 6 through July 21, 2016 from 8am - 2:30pm. Sixteen students will be served in the program for 29 instructional days by one lead teacher and one assistant teacher.
 
The goal of Georgia's Pre-K Program is to prepare 4-year-olds to successfully enter kindergarten, but some students either miss that opportunity or need additional help. This Summer Transition Program provides the opportunity for those young learners in Griffin-Spalding to build their skills and confidence before moving into Kindergarten," said Pearla Hodo, GSCS pre-k coordinator.
 
Each year, DECAL offers a rising kindergarten Summer Transition Program designed to provide six weeks of intensive instructional and family support for age and income eligible students.  The Summer Transition Program targets children entering kindergarten who did not attend Pre-K or Head Start and students who entered Pre-K late in the year and may need additional academic support. 
CAMS TEACHER SELECTED AS TAPP TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Pictured (L-R): High School Ga TAPP TOTY Jen Fronderina, Elementary Ga TAPP TOTY Minette Johnson and Destiny Langford
Carver Road Middle School Teacher Destiny Langford was selected as the Griffin RESA TAPP Middle School Teacher of the Year. Destiny will also represent Griffin RESA's TAPP program as a FY17 TAPP Ambassador with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
 
Congratulations Destiny! GSCS is proud of your accomplishment!
2016 PIE GOLF TOURNAMENT

Click HERE to view the flyer with sponsorship opportunities and registration form.
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET.... READ FOR SUCCESS!
This summer the Griffin-Spalding County Library will be providing direct instruction reading help for rising 2nd grade students who are struggling with reading. Funded by Dollar General Literacy Foundation and with the help of volunteer educators, students will be better equipped to start their 2nd grade school year more ready to read than they had been before. 
Here are some highlights about the program:
  • Every Tuesday & Thursday, June 7-July 28; 12:00-1:30 p.m.
  • 8 week program/16 sessions
  • FREE
  • Location: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
  • Limited to 20 students
  • Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Read for Success Curriculum
  • Each participant will receive a Read with RIF string tote bag containing 8 free books to keep
Participants must commit to all 16 sessions. Attendance will be rewarded with incentives and prizes. Pre and post assessments will be conducted to measure the progress of each student.

Sessions will be conducted in small group, literacy based centers incorporating science, technology, art, and math enrichment activities. RIF's Read for Success program is an evidence based intervention program proven to minimize summer learning loss and improve reading proficiency.

For questions or to register call the Griffin-Spalding County Library at
770-412-4770 or email Bea Mengel at bmengel@frrls.net.

Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades and fireworks displays. But along with all the festivities are plenty of visits to emergency rooms - especially during July.  According to Fireworksafety.com, malfunction and careless use of fireworks result in nearly 10,000 injuries every year. More than 65 percent of all fireworks-related injuries occur during the month of July. Of those, more than half are to the hands, fingers, and eyes. The most common fireworks that cause injury are firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, fountains and sparklers that are legal in Georgia.
 
This year let's bring down that number of injuries by following these safety tips:
  • Never allow children to handle fireworks
  • Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
  • Never light them indoors
  • Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
  • Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
  • Never ignite devices in a container
  • Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
  • Soak unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
  • Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire
  • NEVER drink and use fireworks at the same time!
Better yet, grab a blanket and a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the show.
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
Griffin, GA 30224