Monroe Messages
A Newsletter of Monroe County Schools
Monroe County Schools Board of Education Welcomes You

The Monroe County Board of Education wishes you and your family a great school year! Pictured (l-r):  BOE Chairman Dr. J. Ray Grant, Jr., Superintendent Anthony Pack, BOE Member Tammy Fletcher, BOE Vice-Chairman J. Ray Evans, Sr., BOE Member Eva Bilderback, BOE Member Nolen Howard, and BOE Member Judy Pettigrew.  Not Pictured:  BOE Member Phil Walker.

The Monroe County Board of Education will meet for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 9 in the central office board room.  For the meeting's agenda, see the
eBoard website.
Mary Persons High School Energy Pathway Program

Monroe County Schools held a ribbon cutting this week for the new Mary Persons High School CTAE Energy Pathways Program Facility housed at the Monroe County Schools Education Center.  The classroom suite, houses a lab area and a classroom.  The program, under the direction of Mr. Bob Meacham, is in its second year.  The pathway is an opportunity for Monroe County Schools' students to graduate with a high school diploma as well as knowledge and skills of the energy industry, a vital part of Monroe County and the Middle Georgia economy.  For pictures of the new Energy Pathway Classroom, click here. 

Important Training Opportunities for MCS Volunteers



We welcome volunteers like Mrs. Moore pictured at left with two Hubbard Elementary School students.  Monroe County Schools welcomes visitors and volunteers.  To learn more about volunteering with us, click here.  For a complete schedule of mandated training for volunteers, click here.
Free and Reduced Meal Applications Online
In an effort to avoid any meal benefit delays for the upcoming school year, we wanted to share an easy option for completing meal applications. Please visit our online application website at http://www.schoollunchapp.com . Once you have completed the process, there is NO need to fill out a paper application.  Typically, the approval process for meal applications is 10 days, but the online option helps speed up the process. Any questions, please call the nutrition office at (478)992-5609. We look forward to serving your children!
KBSutton Teachers Secure $13,433 for Resources
KBS Teachers Misty Sparks-Outdoor Classroom Beth Stephens-Building Foundations in Reading and Writing Lauren McComb-Changing Negative Behavior through Positive Rewards Megan Smallwood-Bridging the Gaps in Reading Jennifer Brooks-Integrating Science and Social Studies in Reading.

Congratulations to six KBS teachers who were awarded the 2014-2015 Ecolab Visions for Learning Teachers Grant, totaling $13,433! The goal of Ecolab's grant program for school educators is to encourage and reward individual educators' creativity and innovation in classroom learning by providing opportunities that will motivate and challenge students intellectually, raise student achievement, as well as increase their understanding of academic content and the connection between school and life.  Congratulations to KBS Teacher Lisa Ogide!  She won with her grant application entitled, "Reading Dugout." Congratulations also to Erin Carr, HES Media Specialist. Mrs. Carr also received the 2014 Ecolab Visions for Learning Teacher Grant while she was a teacher at KBS. The funds she was awarded will be used to purchase materials to support our Tier 3 Reading Interventions Program. 

MCMS Banks Stephens Campus Renovated for 2014-2015
This summer Monroe County Middle School Banks Stephens Campus underwent extensive remodeling with new floors, new paint, new carpet, new lighting, and more!  Students and staff at Monroe County Middle School Hubbard Campus and Banks Stephens Campus had a great first week under the direction of Dr. Efrem Yarber.  Dr. Yarber (left, at center) is pictured with MCMS new teachers.  You can follow MCMS on twitter at https://twitter.com/mcms_bulldogs.
 
Are You Ready?  It's Time for MP Fall Sports
Find all of Mary Persons High School's Fall Sports Team Pages at http://mphs.monroe.k12.ga.us/pages/Mary_Persons_High_School/Students/Bulldog_Athletics.  You can follow all the action on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/marypersonshigh.  Mary Persons High School publishes a weekly electronic newsletter called "The Bulldog Beat."  Subscribe to it by texting MPHS to 22828.

HES First Graders Celebrate First Day Jitters
Hubbard Elementary School began the school year with lots of great activities to get into school routines.  First graders read First Day Jitters and celebrated their "jitters." 
Great First Week at TGScott Elementary School
TGScott Elementary School had a great first week of school.  The school welcomed new PreK teacher and paraprofessional team, Mrs. Mallory Crenshaw and Mrs. Denise Emami.  Follow TGScott Elementary on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TGScottElem.
KBS Students Learn of Peaceful Protests for Change

K.B. Sutton's 5thgrade students rallied outside the school to exercise their freedom to protest. After learning about their First Amendment Rights, Ms. Jennifer Jenkins, the 5th Grade Science and Social Studies teacher, challenged each of the three classes to practice using their freedom of speech and their right to assemble peacefully by uniting with a single purpose and protesting in a designated area in front of the school. Students brainstormed school-related issues they felt needed amending, and after a majority vote they began preparing for the protest. Each protest involved a few student leaders who gave a speech that included "We have a dream..."

The first protest topic involved being allowed to use rolling book bags, which is currently against the school policy. The leaders supporting arguments included details such as students backs are hurting and preventing them from reaching their potential height. They also referred the high doctor bills parents may have to pay as this can affect their child's backbone. Some of their slogans included "Give us wheels, so we can heal", "Let rolling book bags roll back in", and "We're young and free, not old and small. Give us rolling book bags, so we can grow tall!" 

Another class protested for including healthy vending machines in their schools for both the students and teachers. They want items that promote well-being and plan for the funds to cover supplies or other school needs. Their catchy phrases included "I have a dream...for healthy vending machines", "Vending machines can earn us green", and "Vending machines are not what they seem, they can have healthy things."

The third class believed since so many students love ice-cream, we should serve it at lunch as a way to raise money for the school. They protested "Ice-Cream for Education!", "Raise money for our school. Sell us ice-cream, keep us cool!" and "Earn us green, through ice-cream."

Over all, these students exercised the first amendment in the Bill of Rights, but more importantly, they learned to be risk-takers, to stand up when they believe a change is needed, and to peacefully join together for a cause that could even change the area or country they live in some day.
 
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 Jackson Daniel 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031 Student 504  Jenny Rooks  433 Highway 41 South, Forsyth, GA 31029 Copyright 2014 All Rights Reserved.