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We Honor Veterans | |
Monroe County Schools observes Veterans Day in our classrooms as we share the reason for the observance through lessons, announcements, and learning projects.
Thank you to all veterans and their families for their sacrifices for our country.
For an outstanding multimedia experience showcasing veterans in World War II, see Georgia Public Broadcasting's http://www.gpb.org/wwii.
The Veterans' Administration has established resources for teachers, students and their families. Access those resources here. |
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Board of Education to Meet for its Fall Work Session in November |
The Monroe County Board of Education will meet for its Fall Work Session on Tuesday, November 13 at 4:00 p.m. in the Board of Education Meeting Room. For that meeting's agenda, check the Monroe County Board of Education eBoard website. |
GALILEO, Georgia's Database Resource Needs Your Feedback |
Georgians are fortunate to have free access to the GALILEO databases. These databases hold thousands of articles from journals and magazines as well as Georgia specific resources such as the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
In order to keep GALILEO growing, the GALILEO team needs feedback. Tell GALILEO what you like, what you don't like, and what you would like in the future. By providing this feedback, you could win an iPad. The lucky iPad winner will be drawn randomly from the completed surveys. |
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MPHS Work-Based Learning Newsletter |
To see the full MPHS Work-Based Learning Newsletter, click here.
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| Check out You Can Go! | |
The College Board hosts a special site for students that shares ways that students can achieve the goal of attending college.
At You Can Go, students and their families can find resources for college planning and resources for funding. |
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Food for Thought and Health |
Sourdough Stuffing
with Pears and Sausage
Makes 12 ¾ cup servings
Ingredients:
-8 cups (1/2 in) cubed sourdough bread
-1 lb turkey Italian sausage
-Cooking Spray
-5 cups chopped onion
-2 cups chopped celery
-1 cup chopped carrot
1 (8oz) package sliced mushrooms
-2 cups (1/2 in) cubed peeled Bartlett pears (apprx. 2 medium)
-1 ½ TBLS chopped fresh basil
-2 tsp chopped fresh tarragon
-1 tsp salt
1 ½ cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2) Arrange bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 9 min. or until golden. Place in a large bowl.
3) Remove casings from sausage. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage, and cook for 8 min. or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add sausage to bread cubes, tossing to combine. Set aside.
4) Return pan to medium-high heat. Add onion, celery and carrot; sauté 10 min. or until onion begins to brown. Stir in mushrooms; cook 4 min. Stir in pear, basil, tarragon, and salt; cook 4 min. or until pear begins to soften, stirring occasionally. Add pear mixture to bread mixture, toss gently to combine. Stir in broth and pepper.
5) Place bread mixture in a 13x9 in. baking dish coated with cooking spray; cover with foil. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 min. Uncover; bake stuffing an additional 15 min. or until top of stuffing is crisp. |
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A Message from the Superintendent
GAPSS Process Continues
 Mary Persons High School participated in the GAPSS process this week. This Performance Review uses the Georgia Assessment of Performance on School Standards (GAPSS Analysis) to analyze the success of the plans put in place by the administration and staff to improve and ensure student success.
The GAPSS Analysis Team is comprised of school system personnel at all levels (central office and school level administrators, certified staff in all fields (teachers, counselors, instructional coaches, etc.),
 | | GAPSS team members reviewed school data as part of the GAPSS process. |
as well as educational leaders from RESA and surrounding counties. The first day includes an overview of the school's areas of focus and accomplishments from the prior year's GAPSS results, as well as classroom observations by team members. The second day consists of the team members working collaboratively to review and analyze the school data. A summary meeting is held with the Principal to report the GAPSS results and to provide commendations and recommendations based on the results of the visit. This process provides a powerful tool for our schools to use as we continue to focus on student success. |
This week presents opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. Look for more information from your school regarding American Education Week celebrations and recognitions. . |
| A Wellness Message for Upcoming Holidays
Holiday Cooking Safety
There is always an abundant amount of cooking during the holiday season, and we wanted to share some tips on how to keep it safe.
1) Wash hands frequently, especially when you switch from handling raw meats to raw vegetables and fruit.
2) Designate a cutting board for meats and another for vegetables and use a different knife.
3) Wash all fruits and vegetables.
4) Heat foods to the following temperatures:
Poultry 165 degrees
Ground Beef 155 degrees
Pork 155 degrees
Fish 145 degree
5) Cool leftovers quickly and store in the refrigerator promptly.
6) Cold foods should be kept at a temperature of 41 degrees or below.
7) Leftovers can be stored for up to seven days. Processed meats for three days.
8) If you prefer stuffing, it is best to cook it separately from the turkey. |
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A Thank You Letter from State School Superintendent, Dr. John Barge
For the full press release, click here.
 Nov. 8, 2012 - The school year is in full swing, and the fall is upon us. November is Parent Engagement Month in Georgia, and schools across the state are highlighting the role parents play in a student's education. In addition, Nov. 15 is National Parent Involvement Day, a time for all parents to consider how they can get more involved in the education of their children, regardless of the grade level. So far, it's been a busy year with many changes, from the implementation of the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards to the continued roll out of the state's new teacher and leader evaluation system. We want to challenge our students and elevate our teaching methods to meet the demands of the 21st century economy. We want to not only test knowledge, but teach students how to apply it in real-world situations. We are also working hard to get our new College and Career Ready Performance Index ready. The index will let teachers put their focus back on the child in the classroom instead of just worrying about the test - because there's so much more to accountability than a test score. We want to put the focus back on the children, which will ultimately lead to improved student achievement. The only way we will be successful with these initiatives is if parents are actively involved in them. Please become involved in your child's school and encourage your friends who have children to do the same. Engaged parents can make the difference between a school that's barely getting by and a school that's thriving. When it comes to parent engagement, the research is clear: when schools, families, and communities support each other, students of all backgrounds and ability levels achieve at the highest levels. As the father of a teenage daughter, I know how challenging it is to stay engaged in the lives of our children. Life is demanding, and there is almost never enough time to get everything done, but being involved in your child's education is arguably one of the most important roles we play as parents. Anyone can be an involved parent by just showing up, but I challenge each parent to become more engaged in the process by asking questions, getting the facts and getting more connected to your child's education. To assist parents in the process, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) provides resources for parents and schools to encourage parent engagement. One of the resources is a Parent Engagement Month calendar that provides specific ways parents can find out about school activities and get connected with other parents and school officials. While the calendar is designed to be used in the month of November, parents can also use it to find ways to engage in meaningful conversations and positive interactions with their children throughout the year. Parents, the strength of your support is immeasurable. When we educators hit a bump, help us plow through it. We simply cannot succeed without you and your support. On behalf of our schools and school systems, I want to thank all the parents and families who have taken on the full-time job of being engaged in your child's education. Throughout this month, I hope you will take time to become more involved, but do not stop there. When November is over, please continue being a part of your child's education. With actively engaged parents and families, our vision of making education work for all Georgians will become a reality. |
A Message from Monroe County Schools' Nurses
Sugar vs. Artificial Sweeteners Ever ask yourself which is healthier, the no calorie fakes or the full-calorie real stuff? Neither is bad for you if eaten in reasonable quantities. But today sugars are found in many processed food from bagels to frozen vegetable mixes. The average American eats 22 teaspoons of sugar at breakfast a day! High amounts of sugar in your diet can lower good cholesterol, raise bad triglycerides and turn protein into destructive substances that set you up for heart disease, stiff joints, wrinkles, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, kidney problems, bone fractures and vision loss. Use these hints to curb sugar cravings: · Chew sugar free gum. It tastes sweet and satisfies the need to chew. · Take a walk or do other physical activity. It takes your mind off food while burning calories! · Meditate for 7 minutes · Make a low calorie drink from 1 ounce of sweet fruit juice mixed with a glass of club soda. If this is the case, why should we not use artificial sweeteners? (They have been studied at least as much as most prescription drugs.) · Since artificial sweeteners in drinks have no calories, we tend to eat more fat calories thinking we have calories to spare. · Artificial sweeteners do not satisfy the brain's sweet craving center stimulating you to crave and eat other sweet foods. · For some unknown reason, people who drink diet sodas have a 70% bigger waist than those who do not. · Artificial sweeteners increase the risk of metabolic syndrome which leads to diabetes. Since excessive amount of natural sugar and artificial sweeteners lead to weight gain and other health problems, moderation is the best choice. When drinking sodas; limit them to one diet soda per day. One can of regular soda has 135 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugar. When selecting foods; avoid those with any type of sugar listed in the first 4 ingredients. Sugars include high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, brown sugar, agave nectar, cane crystals, corn sweetener, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrates glucose, lactose, maltose, malt syrup, molasses, honey and sucrose. |
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