The Give 5 Club at Mary Persons is hosting a "Running for Resources" 5K road race to benefit Monroe County students in need.  This race will take place on November 2nd with a fun run at 8:30 am and the 5K at 9am.  Cost of the race is $20. Pre-register by either going to http://www.macontracks.com  or the Mary Persons home page at http://mphs.monroe.k12.ga.us to print out a race form and mail it in to the school. You can also register the day of the race. Give 5 also needs sponsors for the race as well as volunteers.  Race shirts will be guaranteed for pre-registered participants.  Come join the fun as we help students succeed in Monroe County!  Click here for the full race entry form PDF.

The Monroe County Schools Gifted Education Council, comprised of students, parents, teachers, and administrators from each grade span, is committed to increasing awareness of the gifted services offered in our schools.  Follow the link to learn more about the Gifted Program in Monroe County, have easy access to the state and local guidelines for gifted programs, find links to valuable gifted resources, and have knowledge about summer camps and offerings for students.  Please call Angie Dillon, Assistant Superintendent, for additional information or questions you may have regarding the gifted services. Click here to access the Gifted Services webpage. 

BOOK BAGS ARE NOT NEEDED - WE JUST NEED THE ITEMS TO FILL THEM UP

To succeed in high school and college, you have to do your best at all times. But sometimes it's hard to stay motivated, even when you really care about the work you're doing. Here are five ways to stay on the right track.

1. Focus on High-Impact Activities

The key to success in school is staying focused on your course work. Make a list to get an overall picture of your workload before you start to tackle any of it. Then, make a plan. Although it's tempting to do the simplest assignments first, those that take more time and effort to accomplish are probably the ones that you'll learn the most from.

To determine what your priorities are, rank your assignments in the order of their importance. Then rearrange your time and devote more energy toward those that have the greatest impact on your course work and grades. For example, even though all homework assignments are  important, studying for a midterm exam takes priority over writing a paragraph for English class. As you complete each task, think of it as another step on your way to college success.

2. Create New Challenges

Changing your approach can help you stay interested in what you're doing. If you've been given an assignment similar to one you've done in the past, think about it in a different way. If you wrote an essay for a creative writing assignment last year, try a poem this time. For book reports, pick a history book instead of another biography.

3. Set Attainable Goals

If you're having trouble writing a 25-page paper for class because it seems like such a big job, don't focus on that final number. Break the paper down and consider each section of your paper individually. You can handle any project in small chunks.

4. Find a Social Support Network

Create a group of people around you who want to help you succeed. Mentors can be teachers or family friends who can give you guidance and help you develop new skills. Counselors can help you with planning your courses and starting to explore colleges. You can also reach out to friends and peers who can motivate you by listening and sharing ideas.

5. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

Give yourself a quick reward when you complete an assignment or task. Take a walk, send an email, get a snack - whatever works for you. Then move on to the next project.

The Monroe County Board of Education (BOE) met on Tuesday to discuss the Monroe County Schools Fine Arts Center.  This is the second time in recent months the BOE has looked at five potential elevations for the Fine Arts Center (FAC).  During the September 24, 2013 meeting, the BOE came to concensus on the rendering above.   

Artist rendering of Monroe County Schools Fine Arts Center Facade

The facilty will be two stories with a balcony.  The estimated seating on the ground floor will be between 800 and 900 while the balcony will seat approximately 350.  The balcony will be closed when a smaller event and crowd are utilizing the facility.

There were two primary reasons for constructing the FAC with a balcony.  The first is the footprint, amount of land space needed for the building, would be somewhat smaller.  Having a smaller footprint will help with locating the FAC on the BOE grounds close to the MPHS Rear Entrance and back toward the vsitor's field house but to the small triangular green space.  See the attached photo which shows the possible location for the FAC.  Secondly, the balcony decreases the distance members of the audience would have to sit from the stage. 

The FAC will seat approximately 1200 people.  The reason the BOE decided to go with a facility this size was to be able to seat large groups of students for various events.  Examples include:  All of the students at T.G. Scott Elementary would be able to attend one performace of a production in the morning while both Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary and Katherine B. Sutton Elementary could be seated together for the same performance in the afternoon; All of middle school students and faculty would be able to attend a performance in a half a day session; The high school could be divided by 9th/10th and 11th/12th to see a production at two settings in one day; and finally, should there be a need to hold graduation due to inclement weather, each graduate would be able to have three guests in the Center during the ceremony.

Monroe County Schools Fine Arts Center Site Plan

The largest auditorium in Monroe County seats less than 500 people.  Many programs hosted by various schools cannot be held in one seating at any of the venues available for use in our county.  Elementary school musicals, middle and high school band and chorus concerts, and high school drama events tend to draw large crowds and have to be performed over multiple evenings in order for parents and community members to have an opportunity to see the events.  The larger modern facility will give our community the opportunity to enjoy various visual and performing arts programs available through the Monroe County School System Fine Arts Department.

The following Board Members made these statements regarding the building of the FAC:

Mrs. Tammy Fletcher stated, "We owe this to the people of Monroe County.  They have been waiting for more than 15 years (since the first ESPLOST was passed) for this (the Fine Arts Center)."

Mr. Phil Walker indicated, "Seeing Mr. (Purcell) Kelly at the meeting and hearing his questions and input was critically important.  His expertise has been welcomed by the Board along with the feedback from the ESPLOST Committee who spoke with so many of our community groups.  Of course, the Board will continue to seek feedback from our fine arts teachers and community members.  I know I'm developing a real sense of pride in the fine arts center and we have yet to lay a brick.  I believe the community will feel the same way I do as construction begins."

Finally, Mr. Nolen Howard remembered when the current MP Building was designed.  He stated, "much consideration was given by the then BOE to build a Fine Arts Building when funding would allow.  So this idea has been on the table for over 30 years and finally coming to fruition.  It is very exciting."

You can tell from the Board members' comments that there is a since of urgency to ensure this project becomes a reality for the boys and girls of Monroe County Schools as well as the all community members. Superintendent Pack stated, "Just as our county commission made a tremendous statement with the construction of the new County Administration Building and preserving renovations to the old office complex, it is my hope the Monroe County Schools Fine Arts Center will be another addition to the aesthetics of Forsyth and provide opportunities for a wide array of cultural events to our citizens."

Continue to look for updates on the Monroe County Schools Fine Arts Center as the project progresses.

MCMS Solar Panel ready for learning 

Green Power EMC and Central Georgia EMC have installed a six panel, 1 kW solar panel that generates electricity for a classroom at Monroe County Middle School. The pole mounted solar array is located just behind the eighth grade wing with communications equipment, DC/AC power inverter, and meter. If the classroom is not being used or the solar panel generates excess power, the electricity is fed onto Central Georgia EMC's power grid.

The system works by collecting the sun's energy through six photovoltaic array panels and generates Direct Current (DC) that is fed into a power inverter. The inverter converts the DC power into Alternating Current (AC) that can be used to power lights, computers or other classroom electrical devices. The data collection system monitors DC and AC current, voltage, and power output; ambient and cell temperature; and solar irradiation in the plane of the array. Students and teachers use system data as part classroom studies of math, science, and the environment.

Green Power EMC is a partnership of 38 Georgia electric membership to give Georgia residents the state's first choice of "green" electricity. EMCs are consumer-owned electric cooperatives that provide energy and other value-added services to their members at cost. The Green Power EMC members represent more than three million Georgia homes, businesses, factories and farms. The Sun Power for School initiative with 35 solar arrays across Georgia represents the first statewide academic program to showcase the benefits of solar energy.

MPHS varsity competition squad is pictured at the recent Kell High School competition.

10/5/13 - East Laurens High School

10/26/13 - Northgate High School

11/02/13 - McIntosh High School

11/09/13 - Regions!!

11/16/13 - STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in Columbus, GA

JV & C-Team Competition Schedule:

9/28/13 - Jones County @ Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville

10/5/13 - East Laurens High School

10/26/13 - Northgate High School

11/02/13 - McIntosh High School

Ginger Rogers-Maddox (right) was born in Savannah, Georgia raised in the onion country of south Georgia in Toombs County.  She made Monroe County her home in 1996. She began volunteering in her children's school when her youngest child started Pre-K, and her daughter is graduating from MP this year.  Ginger has always felt it to be important to help where and how she could in her children's education. She is married to Clay Maddox and together they have seven children. Ginger's hobbies include photography and visiting historic cemeteries. She has a background in law enforcement, she continues to carry certifications in that area, and she often applies the organizational skills learned in law enforcement to her current duties. Ginger serves as Parent Involvement Specialist at Hubbard Elementary and T. G. Scott Elementary Schools.

Brandyn Head Pye (Brandi) (left) was born in Macon, Georgia and raised in Juliette, Georgia. Brandi grew up in the Monroe County School District and graduated from Mary Persons High School in 1998. She attended Macon State College for two years and then transferred to Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL where she received her degree. Brandi is married to Robert Pye, Jr. and has two daughters (Mackenzie 9 and Lily 6) and one daughter (Bailey Grace) due in December. Brandi is the Parent Involvement Specialist for K. B. Sutton Elementary and Monroe County Middle Schools. She is also the children's pastor at Stone Edge Church in Macon. 

In their own words: "Parents are a very important resource for our schools.  Together, we are building tomorrow's leaders. Our vision includes increasing parental involvement by providing multiple opportunities for parents to be actively involved in our schools. This will be accomplished by parents offering their time, resources and expertise to assist in classrooms, mentoring programs, tutoring, extracurricular activities, community events, and much more! Parents will also have the opportunity to receive valuable training such as: school-based workshops for parents to help understand curriculum, how to implement positive discipline strategies at home, strengthen parent leadership and participation, and address ways they can help improve academic achievement for their students. Our goal is to provide parents with multiple opportunities to communicate their views to decision-makers in our schools in order to more effectively engage parents and to ensure that we respond to their concerns at the local level. It has been said more than once 'it takes a village to raise a child'. The goal of this village, in Monroe County, is to see every child succeed.