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BOE to meet Tuesday, May 28 
To see the agendas, minutes, and supporting documents for Board of Education meetings, click


KB Sutton Elementary
Mary Persons High
Monroe County Achievement
Monroe County Middle
Monroe County Schools
Samuel Hubbard Elementary
TG Scott Elementary




 
Paving the Way
MCAC students recently participated in a service learning project that completed with a new sidewalk that connects MCAC with the Ninth Grade Campus Cafeteria.



MCMS Choirs Perform

MCMS Treble Choir performed at the Monroe County Middle School Spring Concert.

 

 

MCMS Band Concert on the Carpet
MCMS seventh and eighth graders shared music they learned this year at their concert last week.

MPHS Announces  Exam Schedule

Underclass Exam Schedule
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
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

Tuesday, May 28, 2013
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, 2013
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

Wednesday, May 29, 2013
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

 
Read Through the Summer

 

It is important to stay involved in reading over the summer.  The "summer slide" occurs when students do not read on a regular basis and begin to fall behind in reading achievement.  To prevent this, students and their families can utilize several tools to keep reading practice going during the summer. 

 
Georgia is launching the 2013 Summer Reading Challenge to combat this summer loss in student reading ability.
 
The Lexile "Find a Book" website can help identify books that students are interested in and are able to read.  This tool can be found at http://www.Lexile.com/fab/GA  .



MONROE MESSAGES is published weekly during the school year.  It is an electronic newsletter that provides parents, community, students, staff, and others to learn more about Monroe County Schools.  
MONROE MESSAGES is distributed to over three thousand subscribers. 
For an archive of past issues of Monroe Messages, click here.

 
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.  Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.

 

 
MONROE MESSAGES
A Publication of Monroe County Schools
Schools Closed for Memorial Day
Monroe County Schools will be closed on Monday, May 27 to observe the Memorial Day holiday.  Students will return for classes on Tuesday, May 28 and the last day of school is Wednesday, May 29.  Teachers report for post-planning on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31.  MPHS Graduation exercises will be Friday, May 31.
Mary Persons Class of 2013 to graduate on Friday, May 31
Mary Persons High School Graduation exercises will be held at Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field, weather permitting, May 31, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. Should threat of inclement weather interfere with graduation plans, a decision will be made to reschedule the graduation to Saturday morning at 10:00. If the weather continues to be a concern, the ceremonies will be moved to Sunday at 2:00 p.m. If the ceremony has to be canceled after these three attempts, then students will be able to pick up their diplomas at the school the following week.
A Message From the Superintendent...
Spotlight on Mr. Eric Thompson: New Band Director

Monroe County Schools and Mary Persons High School welcome a new band director.  Mr. Eric Thompson is in his fourth year in education, and he will start his first year as Director of Bands at Mary Persons High School during the summer of 2013.  Mr. Thompson began teaching at Treutlen Middle & High School in 2010. As the Director of Treutlen's bands, he increased student participation by 25%. While at TMHS, Mr. Thompson's bands scored superior ratings, received best in class at the Jeff Davis Yellow Jacket Marching Band Invitational, and 30% of his band made and attended district honor band. The TMHS Band traveled and performed at Universal Studios, Six Flags over Georgia, and Wild Adventures Theme Park.  Mr. Thompson is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), National Band Association (NBA), International Trumpet Guild, PAGE, and a member of Phi Mu Alpha, the men's national music fraternity. 

 

Before becoming the Director of Bands in Treutlen County, Mr. Thompson attended and received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia. While at UGA his most notable accomplishments were being principal trumpet of the Symphonic Band, principal trumpet of the Wind Symphony, trumpet soloist with the Redcoat Marching Band, being the featured trumpet soloist at Midfest, traveling abroad to China for a 15 day performance tour, and studying under the world renown trumpet player, Fred Mills.

 

Mr. Thompson is originally from Macon, Georgia and is excited to return to Central Georgia to be a part of Monroe County Schools and Mary Persons High School as he leads the Black and Gold Band Program.

 

Mr. Thompson will be the Director of Bands for MCS and MPHS.  He will coordinate the instrumental music program for elementary through high school students.  Parents may contact Mr. Thompson via his email address at eric.thompson@monroe.k12.ga.us 

 

Spotlight on Implementation of 4th and 5th grade Band

Starting August 2013, Monroe County Elementary Schools will provide an opportunity for 4th and 5th graders to participate in learning to play various instruments.  At this time, the program is it's developmental stage.

 

Fourth grade will learn about various woodwind and brass instruments during the first semester.  During the second semester of 4th grade students, will  begin playing a recommended instrument to learn introductory fundamental and skills.

 

Once in the 5th grade students will continue learning introductory and fundamental skills to prepare to play Winter Holiday and Spring Concerts.

 

More information for enrolling in 4th and 5th Grade Bands' Programs will be provided through Monroe Messages during the Summer of 2013.

 

Mr. Jim Blanton will be teaching the 4th and 5th Grade Band Programs for K. B. Sutton, Samuel E. Hubbard, and Thomas G. Scott Elementary Schools. 

A Message from the Georgia Department of Education...
GADOE Releases State, System, and School Graduation Rates for 2012

Georgia's most recent public high school graduation rate rose more than two percentage points over the previous year, from 67.4 percent in 2011 to 69.7 percent in 2012.

  

2012 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate for MPHS = 80.07 (4th highest school in the MGRESA)

2012 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate for Monroe County Schools = 80.07 (1st in MGRESA)

Monroe County Schools = 80.07                                 Houston County Schools   = 65.87

Jasper County Schools  = 76.22                                 Crawford County Schools  = 58.17

Jones County Schools   = 74.94                                 Bibb County Schools        = 54.86

Peach County Schools   = 66.56                                 Twiggs County Schools    = 45.95

 

2011 Cohort Graduation Rate for MPHS = 78.68 (2nd highest school in MGRESA)

2011 Cohort Graduation Rate for Monroe County Schools = 78.39 (1st in MGRESA)

 

This is the second year Georgia has calculated the graduation rate using a new formula - known as the adjusted cohort rate - as required by the U.S. Department of Education. Based on an estimated cohort graduation rate of 58.6 percent in 2009, the rate of students getting diplomas has risen by 11 percentage points since 2009. The cohort rate was applied to 2009's graduating class to help create a trend line, even though the state used a different calculation then.

 

"I am very pleased that our graduation rate continues to increase, no matter how it is calculated," said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. "While our graduation rate is still far too low (69.7% statewide for 2012) and we have much progress to be made, we are moving in the right direction. In order to encourage more students to stay in school, we must make high school more relevant. Through our Career Pathways initiative, I am excited that students will see a clearer connection between what they learn in the classroom and how it applies to what they want to do after graduation."

 

The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate defines the cohort based on when a student first becomes a freshman. The rate is calculated using the number of students who graduate within four years and includes adjustments for student transfers. In contrast, Georgia's former graduation rate calculation defined the cohort upon graduation, which may have included students who took more than four years to graduate from high school.

 

The U.S. Department of Education requires all 50 states to use the cohort rate to calculate graduates.U.S. Department of Education, High School Graduation Rate: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/hsgrguidance.pdf. 

KBSutton's Students Tour WMAZ13 studio
Fifth grade students interested in the Arts, Audio/Visual Technology & Communications Career Cluster were treated to a behind the scenes tour and live broadcast at 13WMAZ News. Career Café is an opportunity for KBSutton Elementary fifth grade students to meet individuals from the community and learn more about their careers. Students are invited to Career Café based on the results of a career interest survey administered earlier in the year by the school counselor. Career Café speakers typically visit our school during the fifth grade lunch block and speak to small groups of students. Speakers share their career journey with students, including how they became interested in their current field, what education/training they needed, what they do in a typical day at their job, and any advice to students considering a job in their field.


TGScott Fifth Graders Create Living Museum

TGScott Elementary fifth graders finished their last full week of school with a unique project.  The students researched a notable person in history, and "became" that person for the day.  Visitors stopped by to see the students, and they shared information about the person they were portraying for the day. Helen Keller - Emmy Tane; Queen Elizabeth - Kaylee Binford; Elvis Presley - Nancy Lin; Bear Bryant - Jimbo Finch; Mike Tyson  - Aiden Hichkad; Hank Aaron - Jackson Martin; Lucille Ball - Carrington Hughes; The James Brothers - Hatcher Davis & Preston Westbury; Astronauts - Lorelai Lance, Emma Bertram, Taylor Askew. 

     

Monroe County School System | monroe.messages@monroe.k12.ga.us | http://www.monroe.k12.ga.us
25 Brooklyn Avenue  Forsyth, GA 31029