Do You Have Your Tickets to See MP in the Corky Kell Classic at Mercer Five Star Stadium?
Mary Persons Bulldogs open the season with a special game against Houston County at the 2016 Corky Kell Classic at Mercer University Five Star Stadium on Thursday, August 18 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at local banks, MP main office, and any Touchdown Club member.

The Corky Kell Classic kicks off the Georgia high school season with a series of games also broadcast live on Fox Sports South and streamed live on Fox Sports Go.  Launched in 1992, the MetroPCS Corky Kell Classic is a Georgia high school football event and was the first event ever to be held at the Georgia Dome. The Classic kicks off the highly competitive high school football season in Georgia every August with partial proceeds benefiting the Kell Foundation to fund scholarships. Throughout the years, the games have included top talent in both Georgia and across the nation.
Monroe Messages
Newsletter of Monroe County Schools
MCBOE Recognizes School Resource Officers and Georgia Media Festival Winners
The Georgia Media Festival Program recognized outstanding student projects featuring digital audio and video . In Monroe County Schools, student projects are judged at the school level. School winners go on to the system media festival, and system winners compete at the state level. 
The Monroe County Board of Education honored students who competed and won at the state level, a great accomplishment considering the hundreds of projects submitted at the state level. 

Hubbard Elementary School winners recognized are:  Nix Dayton, Alyssa Powell, Trinity Upright, Blossom Hiers, Ciraia Butler, Cole Carr, Callen Campfield, Connor Carr, Layton Davis, Landon Holloway, and Ladarian Zellner.  Students are pictured with Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman, HES Principal Jay Johnston, and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Valerie Mercer.

KBSutton Elementary School winners recognized are:  Max Nickel, Brinley Hutchinson, Casyn Eaton, Jaise Davis, Madison Ogletree, Ella Kemper,  Braden Rooks, Carlee Combs, Riley Stone, and Haley Pressley.  Students are pictured with Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman, KBS Principal Becky Brown, and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Valerie Mercer. 

TGScott Elementary winners recognized are:  Eason Farmer and Libby Holloway. They are pictured with Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman, TGS Principal Dr. Richard Bazemore, and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Valerie Mercer. 

Monroe County Middle School winners recognized are Emily DeZoort and Abigail Williamson.  They are pictured with Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman, Chief Technology Officer Dr. Valerie Mercer, and MCMS Principal Dr. Efrem Yarber.

School Resource Officers (SROs) were recognized at the meeting for being an integral part of Monroe County Schools.  They are: Ray Hilliard, Ken Blandenburg, Cecilia Jones, Marilynn Fitts, Richard Coughenour.  Students presented gifts to our "superheroes."  Students making presentations were Alexis Passmore (MP); Logan Hickman, (MCMS) Celeste Scott (KBS); K'von Whitehead (TGS); Cole Carr (HES).  SROs and students are pictured with Assistant Superintendent Jackson Daniel, Monroe County Sheriff John Cary Bittick, and Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman.  
SROs are an integral part of the school day.  Pictured below is Deputy Ken Blandenburg enjoying playground time at TGScott Elementary School.
Teacher Leaders Share Research Findings
Teachers Leaders participate in a yearlong professional learning course which includes extensive action research.  Four members of the 2015-2016 cohort shared their findings this past week.   Nancy Haskins, TGScott Elementary; Mandi King, TGScott Elementary; Brittany Bagwell, KBSutton; and Josh Ridley, Monroe County Middle School conducted action research.  They shared their findings at last week's System Leadership Team Meeting. 
MCBOE Reviews Summer Facilities Update
Director of Maintenance and Facilities Roger Onstott shared this summer's projects including JROTC facilities remodeling, Fine Arts Center update, computer lab renovations,  and athletic facility changes.  In addition to the pictures in the presentation above, he noted Mary Persons High School Main Campus had painting completed in several areas.
Monroe County Schools Teachers
Win Over $23,000 in EcoLab Grants
Through the Ecolab Foundation Visions for Learning Grant Program, teachers at KBSutton Elementary School, Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School, and TGScott Elementary School received $23,648 to support teaching and learning. Congratulations to these staff members! The KBSutton staff members pictured at the top are grant winners. Caitlin Green was awarded $2250.00  for STEAM with Reflex Math and Mystery Science. Charita Brown was awarded $2999.00 for Learning with Math Versa Tiles. Judy Walker was awarded $2998.00 for Accelerating Proficient Readers with Guided Reading. Julie Spence was awarded $2123.00 for Literacy Round the Room. Misty Sparks was awarded $1409.00 for STEM Tinker Tubs. Sallie Spieir was awarded $2995.00 for Reflex Math Program. Glennisha Watkins and Alisa Helms were awarded $2997.00 for Number Sense Makes Sense.
Misti Tonn of TGScott Elementary was awarded a $2991 grant for science lab support and materials. She is pictured with TGScott Elementary School Assistant Principal Michelle Collier.  Erin Carr of Hubbard Elementary was awarded a grant for $2886 for MakerSpace activities in the Hubbard Elementary media center.
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Amie Whitfield Donates Cinch Sacks to Back Pack Buddies Program
Mrs. Amie Whitfield raised $600 for Backpack Buddies.  She used the money to purchase 35 cinch sacs for our students.  Mrs. Whitfield and her husband, Alan, have three boys in Monroe County Schools.   The boys are in grades 8, 6, and 2.  She is pictured with Family Services Coordinator, Ms. Gwen Byrd.  If you or your organization would like to make a contribution to Back Pack Buddies, send an email message to gwen.byrd@mcschools.org.
2016-2017 System Testing Calendar
undefined For a PDF of the 2016-2017 Testing Calendar, please click here.
A Message from Monroe County Schools Nurses:  Amusement Ride Safety
From carousels to roller coasters, part of summer fun for many kids is a trip to the local carnival or a nearby amusement park. But experts are warning that children need to be supervised on rides because of the risk of injuries.  ferris-wheel-sunset.jpg
 
Injuries can range from head and neck problems to injuries to the face, arms and legs. Soft-tissue injuries -- damage to ligaments, muscles and tendons -- are the most common.
Parents can do their part to help keep children safe by following a few simple guidelines.
 
  • Always follow all posted height, age, weight and health restrictions.
  • Make sure to follow any special seating order and/or loading instructions.
  • Always use safety equipment such as seat belts and safety bars.
  • Make sure children keep hands and feet inside the ride at all times.
  • Know your child. If you don't think he/she will be able to follow the rules, keep him/her off the ride.
  • Trust your instincts. If you are worried about the safety of the ride, choose a different activity.
  • Avoid "mall rides" if they are over a hard, unpadded surface or if they don't have a child restraint such as a seat belt.
  • Caution your child to not rock hanging cars that could tip over causing them to fall out.
Watch for School Buses:  Safety for Our Students
As students return to school, the Georgia Department of Education and State School Superintendent Richard Woods are urging motorists to use caution when approaching a school bus and to brush up on the law regarding passing a bus. 
 
According to Georgia law, vehicles traveling in BOTH directions must stop when a school bus activates its stop-arm on a two-lane road or a multi-lane road with no median or barrier. Vehicles traveling in the same direction as a school bus must always stop, but motorists traveling in the opposite direction can proceed (with caution) when there is an unpaved median or concrete barrier separating the opposing lanes.
 
A warning that a bus stop is about to take place will always be given with the flashing amber lights on the front and rear of the school bus. Upon seeing these flashing amber lights, vehicles approaching the school bus from both the front and rear should immediately slow down and prepare to stop. All drivers must pay special attention to children, be focused, and exercise caution when in the vicinity of a school bus stop, as student riders can sometimes be unpredictable. Once the bus is fully stopped, the flashing red lights will activate and the stop arm will deploy. Vehicles must stop and should remain stopped until all loading students are aboard in the morning or all unloading passengers have cleared 12 feet off the roadway in the afternoon. Motorists should proceed with caution only after passengers have cleared the roadway, the stop arm is canceled and the flashing red lights are deactivated.
Infinite Campus:  Review Grades and Attendance for Your Student
Monroe County staff members, students, and parents will use a new student information system upon returning to school for the 2016-2017 school year.  Infinite Campus will serve as the Web-based student information system (SIS).  It is used by thousands of K12 districts across the United States. Infinite Campus currently manages data for over 7.3 million students in 44 states.  Monroe County Schools will join 96 other school systems in Georgia that use this web-based software to track attendance, grades, and other student information such as health, contact information, and discipline. The platform allows districts to streamline student administration, enable stakeholder collaboration and individualize instruction.
Parents and students will be able to log into Infinite Campus from any computer or mobile device and have access to schedules, grades, assignments and attendance information. Parents may use a tablet, computer, or smart phone to access the Parent Portal.  The app is available for download for free via the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.  Teachers will be able to record grades, post assignments and take attendance among other features. This is just a few items Infinite Campus will provide Monroe County Schools.
Information regarding parent and student accounts will be shared as the new school year begins.  Monroe County Schools looks forward to the benefits Infinite Campus will provide to students, parents, and staff.
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
Copyright 2016.  All Rights Reserved.