Monroe County Schools uses Twitter to communicate with our stakeholders.  To get the latest information related to our school system, follow Superintendent Anthony Pack.

The Mary Persons High School Class of 2013 was awarded the Kody Lucas Paving the Way Youth Hero Award by the Central Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross.  This special award is named after a Perry High School student who died of brain cancer last year.  Kody Lucas dedicated time and energy to helping others, and in the same spirit, this award recognizes outstanding young men and women who contribute to their community.  MPHS Class of 2013 has sponsored numerous activities and raised funds to benefit the Middle Georgia area.

Zachary Hadaway, a Mary Persons High School senior, was recently awarded the Golden Eagle Award.  He was one of eleven seniors across the Middle Georgia area who were honored with this recognition by The Macon Telegraph.  Hadaway was nominated in the area of drama, and he received a $1000 prize.

MPHS is moving from a 3-day to a 2-day exam schedule for underclassmen. No underclass exams will be given on Friday May 24, 2013. All exemption policies are still in effect. 

 

Tuesday May 28

¨  Main Campus Schedule:

• FIRST PERIOD EXAM-8:00-9:45
• THIRD PERIOD EXAM-9:50-11:35
• Fifth Period EXAM part 1-11:40-1:10 (LUNCH)
• SIXTH PERIOD EXAM-1:15-3:00

¨  Freshman Campus Schedule

• FIRST PERIOD EXAM-8:04-9:48
• THIRD PERIOD EXAM-9:52-11:36
• Fifth Period EXAM part 1-11:40-1:04 (LUNCH)
• SIXTH PERIOD EXAM-1:08-2:53

 

Wednesday May 29

¨  Main Campus Schedule:

• SECOND PERIOD EXAM-8:00-9:45
• FOURTH PERIOD EXAM-9:50-11:35
• Fifth Period EXAM part 2-11:40-1:10 (LUNCH)
• SEVENTH  PERIOD EXAM-1:15-3:00

¨  Freshman Campus Schedule:

• SECOND PERIOD EXAM-8:04-9:48
• FOURTH PERIOD EXAM-9:52-11:36
• Fifth Period EXAM part 2-11:40-1:04  (LUNCH)
• SEVENTH  PERIOD EXAM-1:08-2:53

 

May 27

Memorial Day Holiday (No School)

 

May 29

Last Day of School

  

May 30-31

Teacher In-Service (Post-Planning)

  

May 31

MPHS Evening Graduation

  

To all State Health members,

You can earn a $240 credit for 2014 by completing the 4 health education modules through the new SHBP Member Education Portal.  This can be earned by you and your spouse (if covered) but MUST BE COMPLETED BY MAY 31, 2013.  If you currently have one of the Standard Plans, you can earn the credit but you must also complete each of the requirements for the wellness plans listed below.

 

As a reminder to all the state health members who have the Wellness Plans:

The member and spouse (if covered) must each complete their vendor's (Cigna or United Healthcare) online Health Assessment through http://www.mycigna.com or http://www.myuhc.com  by May 31st and print a copy of the Confirmation of Completion.

 

The member and spouse (if covered) must complete one (1) of the health education module through the new SHBP portal at http://www.AHealthierSHBP.com  by May 31st to satisfy the requirement.  To maximize your spending credit, complete ALL FOUR of the modules by this date. 

 

IF THIS IS YOUR 1ST YEAR ON THE WELLNESS PLANS you and spouse (if covered) must each complete a biometric screening through a physician's office by May 31, with the completed and signed physician screening form showing the test results faxed to the number shown on the form by May 31, 2013.

 

 

Kindergarten Open House at Hubbard Elementary School will be Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 5:00.  The orientation will begin in the media center, and then rising kindergarteners and their families are invited to visit classrooms to learn more about their 2013-2014 school year.

The Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas.  Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX  Dr. Mike Hickman  25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031 Student and Athletic Title IX  Tommie Walker  25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031  Student 504  Lisa Allred  433 Highway 41 South, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031 Any employee, student, applicant for employment, parent or other person who believes he or she has been discriminated against or harassed in violation of the above areas must make a complaint in accordance with the procedures outlined in Board Policy GAAA.  Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.

MONROE MESSAGES

A Publication of Monroe County Schools

 

High School CCRPI State Average- 72.6  

Mary Persons CCRPI Score- 78.3  

 

Middle School CCRPI State Average- 81.4

BSMS CCRPI Score- 90.5

WHMS CCRPI Score- 87.5

 

Elementary School CCRPI State Average- 83.4

TGSES CCRPI Score- 91

KBSES CCRPI Score- 85.5

SHES CCRPI Score- 84.1

A school and district's overall score is made up of three major areas: Achievement (70 points possible), Progress (15 points possible) and Achievement Gap (15 points possible). In addition to the three major areas, some schools receive "Challenge Points" to add to their score (up to 10 points). They receive these points if they have a significant number of Economically Disadvantaged students, English Learner students and Students with Disabilities meeting expectations. They also receive points for going beyond the targets of the CCRPI by challenging students to exceed expectations and participate in college and career readiness programs.   Beginning in 2013-2014, schools will also receive ratings based on their financial efficiency and school climate, but these ratings will be for the public's information only and will not factor into the school's overall CCRPI score.

The Index supports the state's core educational principles:

• exemplary student achievement that prepares all for success in college and careers
• effective teaching and leadership in all schools
• innovative school improvement, particularly in low performing schools
• reduction in the duplicate reporting requirements for local school districts

The Index has been designed around a comprehensive definition of college and career readiness, or the level of achievement required in order for a student to enroll in two- or four-year colleges and universities and technical colleges without remediation, fully prepared for college-level work and careers. This means that all students graduate from high school with both rigorous content knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge.

 

 

Farewell Concert

 

Directed by Charles M. Hernandez  

Accompanied by Terry Clopton

 

Monday, May 13th, 2013  7pm

State Offices South at Tift College-Roberts Chapel

Free Admission 

Mary Persons High School's Boys Soccer Team, Region 2AAAA champions, reached the third round of the state playoffs last week with a win against Upson-Lee 3-0.  On Friday, the team lost to NW Whitfield in a 5-1 match.  Under the leadership of Coach Keith Groeper, the Cardiac Dogs finished a successful season.

Monroe County Schools had eight system level winning media festival projects to place at the state level.  State level winning projects will be recognized at the Tuesday, May 14  Board of Education meeting which will convene at 6:30 p.m. in the BOE Auditorium.  For a complete listing of state media festival winners, click here.

The Varsity Bulldog Baseball Team completed their season this past Thursday in the Sweet Sixteen.  The Bulldogs made the playoffs on a three game winning streak and advanced from the first round with a 2 games to 1 advantage over Wayne Co.  In the second round.  The Bulldogs took Locust Grove (Region Runner-up  4AAAA) to a deciding third game before falling 7-3.  This is the second Sweet Sixteen appearance for the Bulldogs in three years and their fourth playoff appearance in the last five.  The Bulldogs finished the season at 14-17.  They were led by seniors, Mikey Camp, Kendall Smith, Jordan Grant, Josh Mays, Keaton Pope, Jay Green, Wilson Hall, Jordan Banks, and Josh Benson.

 

Monroe County Middle School Sixth Grade Chorus recently performed their spring concert.  The MCMS Choral Program is under the direction of Mrs. LeaAnne Walters.

Monroe County Schools hosted its first gifted fair last week, and the turnout of students and their families was outstanding. Over 170 parents and students attended the fair which had sessions on study skills, applying to college, educational games, technology, and more.  The system plans to offer the same activity next school year. 

Pictured above are Ms. Rayceen King, Director of Student Services, Mrs. Teresa Roller, MPHS, Mrs. Melissa Smith, TGScott Elementary, Mrs. Tasha Burston, MPHS, Dr. Valerie Jackson, MCMS, and Mrs. Pat Hightower, TGScott.  Not pictured:  Mrs. Jennifer Rayburn, KBSutton Elementary.  School counselors and administration recently celebrated the hard work that counselors completed to achieve RAMP status.  RAMP is a national status that shows that Monroe County Schools counselors are meeting the needs of students and their families through specific services that are held to a national criteria.  The ASCA Model Program (RAMP) is a designation from the American School Counselor Association.

Moody's Investors Service, the global leader in credit ratings, research, and risk analysis for business organizations and interests, this week issued the Monroe County School District credit ratings of "Aa3 (underlying)" and "Aa1 (enhanced)" for an upcoming public bond issue.

The School District is in the process of issuing $5 million in General Obligation (Sales Tax) Bonds to fund construction and renovation projects within the school system. Debt service on the bonds are guaranteed by revenues from the extension of the 1% Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST). The continuation of the ESPLOST was approved by Monroe County voters in a public referendum March 19.

According to the definition assigned to the credit rating by Moody's an "Aa" rating is "judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk." The "Aa" rating is the second highest granted by Moody's. The rating scale includes nine levels, ranging from a high of "Aaa" to a low of "C".

Moody's report, issued Tuesday, May 7, follows a lengthy review of the Monroe County School Districts financial statements, budget, revenue and expenditure reports, and interviews with Superintendent Anthony Pack and Jackson Daniel, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services.

The credit rating is defined as "Moody's opinion regarding the creditworthiness of an entity, a debt or financial obligation, or debt security ... using an established and defined ranking system of rating categories."

The Moody's report identified strengths of and challenges facing the school district in terms of financial standing.   The strengths listed by Moody's were:

• Conservative financial management with limited use of fund balance as a revenue source;
• History of satisfactory reserve levels;
• Low debt burden supported by ESPLOST revenues.

Challenges listed were:

• Significant taxpayer concentration (40% of Monroe County's tax base is made up of utility companies);
• Rising costs of employee benefits;
• Reliance on state aid as a revenue source.

In summary, Moody's commented that "the Monroe County School District financing has strong sufficiency of interceptable revenues and an average transaction structure, warranting the Aa1 programmatic rating."

With the credit rating report issued, the School District is now working with its financial underwriters, Raymond James Company, to market the bonds on the public market. Proceeds from the bond issue will fund several capital projects within the system, including renovations at the Mary Persons High School gymnasium to include replacement of the outdated bleacher system; improvements to the school system's technology infrastructure to include wireless connectivity, new hardware and safety enhancements; purchase of school buses and maintenance vehicles; and planning and design work for a new Fine Arts Center for the school system.

Research has found that students anticipating the move to middle school worry about three aspects of the change: logistical, social, and academic. When researchers asked kids what part of moving to middle school most concerned them, the top answers related to how the new school worked. How would they find the right classroom? What happened if they were tardy? Where was the cafeteria? What about the bathrooms? Here are some tips to help ease apprehensions:

• Attend the Open House- Before school starts, get a copy of your child's schedule; walk from room to room with your child, look for direct routes to classrooms.
• Practice opening lockers before school begins, if possible. Middle school lockers use combination locks which can be tricky!
• Keep backpacks simple: Don't buy backpacks that can store 50 pounds of materials. The more a backpack can hold, the more a student will place in it. Smaller backpacks allow for better organization and less back pain. 

The best way to help your child through this transition is to keep a positive attitude about middle school. Let them know it is normal for middle school students to experience fears. Some things that you can do to ease social transition:

• Encourage your child to join sports teams, clubs, or other extracurricular activities.
• Ease any loneliness in early weeks of school by helping your child arrange weekend social activities with neighborhood, church, or grade school friends.

Though most students worry more about logistical and social aspects of middle school before they get there, once settled in, academic concerns rise to the surface. It is typical for student academic performance to drop upon entering middle school. Along with everything else that's going on - roller coaster emotions, physical changes, and social upheaval - your child is also coping with harder classes, more homework, and a whole new set of academic expectations. Teachers expect students to take charge of assignments and projects with less day-to-day guidance.

• Meet with teachers early in the school year.
• Utilize tools such as ParentConnect for PowerSchool to track your child's grades and attendance.  
• Stay connected to your child's school work. Guide your student to work more independently while supporting him/her enough to give him/her confidence.

Most students make adjustment to routines and demands of middle school within a couple months. If your child is still struggling as fall gives way to winter, then a meeting with the counselor is in order.