Parents are invited to visit schools on Thursday, October 24, 2013  from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  

Monroe County Schools also will host Parent Conference Night on  

March 27, 2014 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in all schools.

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

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.  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. 

Parents are invited to Title I Meetings outlining federal services provided to Monroe County Schools.  Monroe County Middle School Banks Stephens Campus meeting will be held on Monday, October 7 at 1:30 p.m. The Monroe County Middle School  William Hubbard Campus parent meeting is Monday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. Parents of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders may attend either session. The Samuel Hubbard Elementary School parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 8 at 6 p.m. Katherine B. Sutton Elementary School's meeting will take place on Thursday, October 10 at 6 p.m. T. G. Scott Elementary School's parents are invited to attend the parent meeting to be held on Tuesday, October 15 at 6 p.m. 

Monroe County Schools Receives 2013 Cybersecurity Leadership Innovation Award

Monroe County Schools recently won the Cybersafety and Digital Citizenship Program Leadership Award for training students, teachers, staff and parents over the past two years on the issues of cybersecurity and digital citizenship. The award was presented by the Center for Digital Government sponsored by McAfee.

Todd Sander, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government, stated the following as innovative practices leading to awarding Monroe County Schools the prestigious award. "Monroe County Schools has made a concentrated effort within the last two years to train students, teachers, staff, parents, and their community regarding cyber-safety. More specifically, they have provided specialized cyber-security and cyber-safety training to teachers and made sure that elementary students are learning about digital citizenship through a targeted and age-appropriate digital citizenship curriculum. "By proactively engaging and informing community members, high school students, families, and others, school officials are spreading the word to older students about the critical importance of being safe online through presentations like "What Does Your Digital Tattoo Look Like?" 

"These presentations show students and parents to YouTube videos and government media sites where they are taught that what they do and share on-line can have life-long and life-changing ramifications. By more fully understanding how information and communication technology works they are better prepared to avoid dangerous situations or negative consequences and fully enjoy the benefits of good digital citizenship." To see the online course for staff for cybersafety, click here.  At elementary, students participate in the CommonSense Media cybersafety curriculum in the computer lab setting.  To learn more about the curriculum, click here. 

http://www.govtech.com/security/Cybersecurity-Awards-2013.html?utm_source=related&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=Cybersecurity-Awards-2013  

K.B. Sutton Elementary School honored their first Knights Honor Club students of the year for displaying the character trait "Courage" throughout the month of September.  The Knights Honor Club nominees were:  Tyler Johnson, Ayden Worley, Jeremiah Kinney, Noah Faulkner, Maddie Allen, Jamarcus Sands, Jamin Hastings, Suzannah Worley, Alyssa Molina, JB Harper, Amiya Davis, Caleb Moore, Colby Hubbard, JB Pringle, Autumn Loudermilk, Emily Hansen, Jon-Thomas Hollifield, Tierra Russell, Ashaunii Patterson, Carson Salter, Lauren Grace Brown, Lexi Bennett, and Pandora Imlay.

MCAC Fabulosity Tea Participants were (l-r): Preshantia Bowden, Amber Conwell, Jadasha Alexander, Kinsey Rowland, Shatara Brantley, and Jasmine Browner.

The young ladies of MCAC recently enjoyed a little girl time  at the annual Fabulosity Tea. The girls discussed etiquette, manners, and of course, lots of "girl talk."

The first guest speaker was HES principal, Dr. Marcy Hunt-Harris. She talked about the importance of being a young lady. She discussed the differences in dress for various contexts and stated that the students should always dress according to the occasion. Dr. Hunt-Harris stressed that it is not necessarily about the way you look, but also what is on the inside and how you treat people. These are the more important characteristics of a lady.  

The second speaker was K. B. Sutton's school nurse, Mrs. Tracy Willis. Mrs. Willis talked about the prevalence and prevention of many conditions that could affect the female body. The students learned about modes and methods of detection and prevention of these medical conditions as well as best clothing choices for the health of the female body. The third speaker was Mary Kay consultant, Ms. Diane Khalar. Ms. Khalar gave a lesson in applying eye makeup properly and the importance of taking care of skin. The girls learned tproper techniques and the amount of makeup to use to add to natural beauty. The fourth speaker was Ms. Neva Shannon of the Monroe County Sheriffs' Office. Ms. Shannon taught about the popular drugs that teens use today. Participants learned about the forms and effects these drugs have on the human body and how the new synthetic drugs are just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, as other common drugs.The 2013 Fabulosity Tea was an enjoyable and learning affair for the program's young ladies. 

K. B. Sutton Elementary School has been honored by the Georgia School Nutrition Association with a 2013 Georgia Best Practices Award. The award was accepted by Sandy Peppers (left) and Lisa Singley of the Monroe County School Nutrition Department at the GSNA's 2013 Kick-Off Luncheon held Sept. 26 in Macon.   K.B Sutton is the first school in Monroe County to be designated an official Wellness Zone and actively promotes a healthy school environment for students and staff through activities and learning opportunities.   

Run for the Resources
to Benefit Students in Need

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.

HES's Jayden Stapler and Floyd Duke worked together to construct a catapult to launch their cotton ball pig.

This week in Hubbard Elementary's Merry Media Center students had an enjoyable time listening to the story, The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett.  In the story, a princess is dropped into a cart, which catapults a pig up into the princess's cradle.  Following the story, students had the opportunity to create a catapult using a styrofoam cup, rubber bands, a spoon, tape, and Popsicle sticks.  The object of the STEM project (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) was for students to launch a cotton ball "pig" into the air. 

Ten Tips for Living with Eczema

Eczema is an itchy and painful condition but simple lifestyle changes can be a big benefit to treatment.

Many things can trigger a flare-up of eczema, from scented soaps to dust mites. It is important to learn what your triggers are and then try to avoid them. You should eliminate all products with fragrances from your routine. Look for unscented, mild products without additives or chemicals.  Other triggers can include household cleaners, pet dander, grass, gasoline, chemicals, dust mites and certain foods

Using moisturizer often is one of the best ways to keep eczema under control. Choose a plain, unscented moisturizer. Thicker products provide the most protection for your skin.

Changes in temperature or humidity can cause eczema to flare up. Control the temperature and humidity inside your house with air conditioning and heat. Use a humidifier if needed during the winter months to keep moisture in the air.

Eczema is itchy but scratching increases the itchiness. It can also damage your skin and lead to infection. Try cold compresses, frequent moisturizing, oatmeal baths and medications from the Doctor

Overheating or sweating can cause worsening of eczema. Always take a shower as soon as possible after workouts and sports activities.

Cotton and cotton blends are the best choice. Wools and synthetic fabric like polyester can irritate the skin. Wash new clothes before wearing using a mild unscented detergent. Avoid fabric softeners.

Stress will contribute to eczema flare ups. Learn to reduce stress through meditation, deep breathing, yoga and exercise.

Avoid hot shower or baths.   Try "room temperature" water, avoid scrubbing your skin, use a gentle body wash instead of soap, pat dry and apply moisturizer while skin is still damp.

Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes. Cotton gloves will protect hands from house cleaners and absorb sweat.

Talk to your Doctor about medication. He/She might suggest over-the-counter cream, oral antihistamines or a prescription medication.

Source: http://www.WedMD.com 

 Please dress comfortably as it relates to your volunteer task, but please remember that as adults, we serve as role models for our students.  The following items are examples of appropriate attire:

• All clothing should be clean, pressed, and not frayed.
• Appropriate tennis shoes may be worn.
• If wearing shorts during non-school hours, the shorts should be Knee-length shorts (maximum of 2 inches above the knee-including any splits).  No gym shorts or nylon-type (athletic) shorts may be worn at any time. 
• Midriffs must be covered at all times.
• Underwear must be covered at all times (bending, sitting, stretching, etc.).

 Men

• Dress slacks
• Short/long sleeve dress shirts
• Polo type shirts
• Khaki pants or pants of khaki-type material

Women

• Skirt/dress length (all around) should be a maximum of 2 inches above the knee, including the split.  Appropriate denim skirts/dresses are allowed.
• Capri pants
• Slacks
• Blouses/tops should have an appropriate neckline close to the neck.  No cleavage should be showing.

The following items are examples of inappropriate attire:

• T-shirts (except school, academic, or holiday spirit wear).  Exception is by administrative approval for special spirit days.
• Bedroom shoes, shower shoes, beach shoes, rubber/plastic flip flops, crocs (not limited to name brand)
• Leather skirts, dresses, pants
• Fishnet hose or similar type hose
• Overalls, stirrup pants, leggings
• Form fitting clothing
• Sheer, revealing, see-through attire
• No sleeveless tops for men
• Spaghetti straps, tank tops, tube tops, halter tops, razor back tops, etc. unless covered by a jacket, sweater, etc.
• Nothing that distracts from the learning environment

 Exceptions

• Field trip attire that is not in compliance with the above guidelines must be approved by the school administration.
• Site supervisor may make exceptions for events such as field day, spirit day, etc.

 The administration reserves the right to make decisions concerning the dress code as situations arise.