Monroe Messages
A Newsletter of Monroe County Schools
Board of Education Recognizes Students and Staff
Monroe County Achievement Center 12 for Life students were recognized at the Monroe County Board of Education monthly meeting.  The students recognized are Steven Boswell, Landon Bryant, Tiffany Caslin, Abriana Corley, Jarvis Jones, Shantey Rhodes, and Adrian White.  Pictured with the students are (left) MCAC Program Director Grady Caldwell and (right) BOE Chair Dr. J. Ray Grant Jr. and Superintendent Anthony Pack. 

MCAC Program Director Grady Caldwell recognized Dr. Margie Campbell for her grant writing expertise which resulted in a $2000 Central Georgia EMC grant as well as several Wal-Mart grants.

MCAC Service Pin Recognitions were made to MCAC Program Director Grady Caldwell for five years of service and Dr. Margie Campbell for thirty-five years of service.  They are pictured with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman, BOE Chairman Dr. J. Ray Grant, Jr., and Superintendent Anthony Pack.

Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School Robotics Team students and their sponsors were recognized at the board meeting.  Robotics team members are Jon Thomas Smith, Aaron Thompson, Troy Davis, Caroline Hampton, Kenia Thomas, Alexis Chambers, and Lauren Haripar.  They are pictured with their sponsors Raymond Cameron, Maggie Olive, and Susan Adams-Curtis.  Also pictured are Assistant Superintendent Angie Dillon, HES Principal Jay Johnston, BOE Chairman Dr. J. Ray Grant, Jr., and Superintendent Anthony Pack.


Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School staff were recognized for their years of service.  They are Lesia Atwater, 20 years; Velvelene Moore, 15 years; Vetris Lewis, 10 years; Denise Jackson, 10 years; Aretha Alford, 5 years; Marnai Boose, 5 years; Amy Carter, 5 years;  Patricia Bond-Nesmith, 5 years; Thanh Nguyen, 5 years; Heather Smith, 5 years.  Staff members are pictured with HES Principal (left) Jay Johnston and (right) BOE Chairman Dr. J. Ray Grant, Jr. and Superintendent Anthony Pack.
Monroe County Schools 2015-2016 Calendar




















For a PDF  of the 2015-2016 calendar that you can print, click here.
MCBOE Recognized as GSBA Board of Distinction
The Monroe County Board of Education was recognized at the GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference on Friday, December 5, 2014 as a 2014 Distinguished School Board. Pictured at left is MCBOE Chairman Dr. J. Ray Grant, Jr. accepting the plague for the Board of Distinction Honor from Superintendent Anthony Pack. The achievement and status of the Georgia School Boards Association's (GSBA) 2014 Distinguished School Board recognition reflects the board's commitment to the students, staff, and community of Monroe County.  The recognition program was designed to showcase best practices in school governance and leadership. GSBA recognizes good school board governance to foster educational community cultures in order to advance student learning and achievement.

The Monroe County Board of Education met and or exceeded the criteria set forth by GSBA to earn this honor of a 2014 Distinguished Board. The GSBA Governance Team Recognition Program was developed by Georgia superintendents and board members based on the state board of education's standards for effective governance to recognize exemplary leadership.  In 1998, the Georgia School Boards Association was one of the first school board associations in the nation to develop a program of standards for local boards of education.  The GSBA Board recognition program is a three-year, three tiered program beginning with the Quality Board status. 

Thank You to Ben Amerson and Five Star Travels, Inc
Christmas came a little early at Hubbard Elementary, TGScott Elementary, and KBSutton Elementary when Mr. Ben Amerson of Five Star Travels, Inc. visited each school this week to deliver a $1000 check at each school.  Thank you, Mr. Amerson!  The funds will be used to purchase technology and student supplies at each location.  Mr. Amerson is pictured with the three elementary principals.
Parents, Please Take a Few Minutes to Provide Feedback
The Georgia Department of Education collects parent survey responses as part of the calculations for the School Climate Star Rating, a component of the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).  CCRPI is a comprehensive school improvement, accountability, and communication platform for all educational stakeholders that will promote college and career readiness for all Georgia public school students.The survey consists of 24 questions.  Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis.
Board of Education Announces 2015-2016 Meetings

Month 

Regular  Meeting Date

Tentative Called Meeting Date

January

13th

24th - Saturday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM - 6 of 9 hours of required training

February

10th

24th

March

10th

24th

April

14th

28th - Tentative Board Work/Training Session - 3 PM to 8 PM - 3 of 9 hours of required training - Budget related

May

12th

26th

June

9th

23rd

July

14th

28th

August

11th

25th

September

8th

22nd

October

13th

27th

November

10th

No tentative meeting scheduled at this time.

December

8th

No tentative meeting scheduled at this time.

MCAC Students Celebrate Good Behavior at
Mercer University Basketball Game

Mercer University Assistant Coach Matthew Brownback and Mercer University Shooting Guard Jibri Bryan of the Mercer Men's Basketball Team spoke to MCAC students in the fall. They provided MCAC with tickets to attend the Mercer Basketball Game last week. The tickets were used as a positive behavior (PBIS) incentive, and students had to earn their way to the game by having zero tardies and zero discipline referrals during the month of November.   Thirty-four students qualified for the game. For the majority of these students, this was their first time attending a college basketball game.  The game was very exciting as Mercer held on for a win against a feisty Virginia Military Institute team. Once the game was over, they got a chance to walk on the court, and take pictures with members of the basketball team.
MCMS Students Place in 4-H DPLA Program

Congratulations to Monroe County Middle School students who participated in DPA-District Project Achievement on November 22nd at Rock Eagle. Participants were: Ethan Payne-Workforce Prep-2nd Place; Ava McKallip-History-4th Place; Ansley Lawson-Perf. Arts-Vocal-2nd Place; Stormie Martin-Dog Care & Training-3rd Place; Sarah Boyer-Marine & Coastal Ecology-2nd Place; Maggie Leigh Sanders-Workforce Prep-1st Place; Brandy Buchanan-Companion Animals-1st Place; Mara Emami-Perf. Arts-Vocal-5th Place; Maggie Forrester-Food for Health & Sport-1st Place; Kaylun Palmer-Sports-5th Place; Grant Pixley-Between Meal Snacks-1st Place; Katie Thomason-Outdoor Survival Skills-1st Place; Rebecca Johnson-Target Sports-1st Place; Maci Joiner-Safety-1st Place; Adrian Hughley-Sports-4th Place.


Congratulations Leadership Monroe Graduates!

Congratulations to three of Monroe County Schools' own!  Three Monroe County assistant principals recently completed the Leadership Monroe experience.  The program graduates are Monroe County Middle School Assistant Principal Pat Hightower, Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School Assistant Principal Dr. Mequanta McCord, and TGScott Elementary School Assistant Principal Michelle Collier.  They are pictured with Assistant Superintendent Jackson Daniel and Superintendent Anthony Pack. Leadership Monroe is a yearlong commitment of serving and learning more about our community and the students and families we serve.
Congratulations MP Football Players
Recognized in Georgia High School Football Daily

Georgia High School Football Daily recently recognized Mary Persons High School football players.   

2-AAAA Defensive player of the year: Demarcus Davis, Mary Persons, Sr.; Scholar Athlete of the year: Jason Hightower, Mary Persons, Sr.

First-team offense RB - Dee High, Mary Persons, Sr.; WR - Malik Bledsoe, Mary Persons, Sr.; WR - JT Stokes, Mary Persons, Sr.; OL - Tyler Camp, Mary Persons, Sr.

First-team defense LB - Quen Allen, Mary Persons, Sr.; DB - Keri Brown, Mary Persons, Sr. DB - Quen Head, Mary Persons, Sr.

First-team special teams  K - Josh Hampton, Mary Persons, Sr

Second-team offense QB - Jake Johnston, Mary Persons, Jr.

; OL - Amari Walker, Mary Persons, Sr.  
Second-team defense  DL - Mykel Lucear, Mary Persons, Sr.
Honorable mention:  DL Malik Herring, Mary Persons  
A Message from Monroe County Schools Counselors:
'Tis the Season To Be Grateful
Gratitude no longer has to be reserved for special occasions and amazing circumstances. When we promote gratitude in our students -- and in our own children -- we are giving them a great gift. What we understand about the effects of gratitude is similar to what we understand about the benefits of giving up grudges and more.   Generally embracing a stance of greater appreciation makes us healthier. Dwelling in negative emotions --including selfish emotions -- is not the optimal state for learning, growth, or well-being. As a parent, how do you teach gratitude to your child?
Thank You Cards:  Ask your children to think of someone who has been helpful to them in some way, large or small, to whom they would like to thank, or express extra thanks.
Appreciation Journals:  Ask students to keep journals in which they make entries each day about things big or small that they appreciate.
Gratitude Poster/Gratitude Board:  Put a Gratitude Poster/Gratitude Board in your house. You can have a different gratitude-related theme each month or you can alternate between two themes, for example: "Things We Are Grateful For" and "We Did It!"

Adapted from an article by Maurice Elias Prof. of Psychology, Director, Rutgers Social-Emotional Learning Lab, D

Holiday Shopping with Monroe County Schools at
Barnes & Noble at The Shoppes at Rivers Crossing

The holiday shopping countdown is on, and you have a few more weeks to shop to benefit Monroe County Schools. Join us at the Barnes & Noble Book Fairs at the Barnes & Noble store on Riverside Drive in Macon throughout the month of December. Please come out and support the schools.  Online sales and caf� sales can count towards your school as well.  

Just remember to mention your school's name at the register so the school will get credit. 
Our remaining book fairs are: 

Samuel Hubbard Elementary - Thursday, December 11 - Tuesday, December 16

T.G. Scott Elementary - Saturday, December 13 - Thursday, December 18

Pictured above are KBSutton Elementary second graders performing at Barnes & Noble.
Band Students Performed Sounds of the Season
Band students as young as fourth grade through twelfth grade performed last week for family, friends, and the community.
Congratulations to Mr. Ralph Simmons
TGScott Elementary School recently celebrated the upcoming retirement of Mr. Ralph Simmons. Best wishes, Mr. Simmons! Mr. Simmons is pictured above with members of his family and TGScott Elementary Principal Dr. Richard Bazemore.
A Message from Monroe County Schools Nurses:
Celebrate the Season Safely

TREES Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection.  A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness, remember: A fresh tree is green. Fresh needles are hard to pull from branches. When bent between your fingers, fresh needles do not break. The trunk of a fresh tree is sticky with resin. When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that tree is too dry. Place the tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Heated rooms dry trees out rapidly, creating fire hazards.  Cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. Trim away branches as necessary to set tree trunk in the base of a sturdy, water-holding stand with wide spread feet. Keep the stand filled with water while the tree is indoors.  Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Use thin guy-wires to secure a large tree to walls or ceiling. These wires are almost invisible.

 

VISITING WITH SANTA
Santa visited with children at a Monroe County Christmas Party hosted at the Mary Persons Freshman Campus this week.

"SNOW" Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. To avoid injury, read container labels; follow directions carefully.

 

ORNAMENTS  Breakable ornaments should be hung securely and high enough so that little hands do not pull them down.   

 

LIGHTS Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory.  Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.  Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house, walls or other firm support to protect from wind damage. Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and any person touching a branch could be electrocuted! To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a tree, never fastened onto it!

Keep "bubbling" lights away from children. These lights with their bright colors and bubbling movement can tempt curious children to break candle-shaped glass, which can cut, and attempt to drink liquid, which contains a hazardous chemical.

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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  Student 504 Jenny Rooks 25 Brooklyn Avenue Forsyth, GA 31029
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