COMMUNICATOR
System-wide Straight Talk for GSCS Employees
 Oct. 6 - 12, 2017
In This Issue


I'm glad the fall break is here. But not for the usual reasons of taking some time to rest and relax, spending time to enjoy the fall weather outside fishing, or even, going to the fair which I have done each year since I was born. No, this year I'm thankful for the break to give our school system a chance to unwind from a very stressful couple of weeks, weeks when exciting news about our students and their accomplishments competed for time with distracting issues centered more in the world of adults. While I don't down play the serious nature of many of the items played out in the news or in social media, I'm hoping a break will help us reconnect with what's really important - our students and their success.
 
Our graduation rate rose to 81.5% in 2017, the highest rate anyone can remember and one that exceeds state average. Our community and our school system are no longer in the bottom tier - this is cause for celebration.  Adding to that news, our special education graduation rate reached 73.9% in 2017 putting us in the top 30% of districts statewide. Fabulous news! On Wednesday, the Kiwanis Club of Griffin hosted five middle school students and their families as the students signed commitment letters under the REACH Georgia scholarship program. Each student has the promise of a $10,000 college scholarship if they keep up a 2.5 GPA, exhibit good attendance and good behavior, remain drug and crime free, take advantage of programs designed to help them learn successful life skills and, most importantly, graduate high school. What a deal!  We hope to add new groups of students each year under the REACH umbrella. This is the type of news we should be celebrating and highlighting across our community and refusing to let distractions get in the way of our true purpose - student success.
 
But we as adult leaders, and all of our staff qualifies under that label, have to set the tone. Please use the break to reflect and recommit to the responsibilities we have to students, parents and community members. We are here for them and no other reason. Recommit to our responsibility to respect and support fellow GSCS staff members. If we don't support each other, who will? That doesn't mean that inappropriate actions won't be addressed when necessary. That must be done just as it is done to correct students. But, we can be respectful. Also, keep in mind that we work under a code of ethics, both certified and classified staff. This is a serious responsibility and we must recommit ourselves to its tenants. Be careful when using social media.  Postings can take on a life of their own and become problematic. All we need to do is remember our mutual connection as members of the Griffin-Spalding County School System team and act accordingly. Respectfully.
 
I am so proud of the changes our system is working through on its way to better preparing our students. I've already shared some examples but there are more. I'm proud of the way so many of you have accepted the challenge to be agents of change - understanding that, many times, improvement requires a different approach. The issues of the past few weeks have limited my ability to get out and be in the schools on a regular basis. That is going to change. If we all keep our responsibilities and commitments in mind, we can keep distractions to a minimum and focus on our students.
 
I will close by reiterating my love for this work, my home town and our educational system. I am proud to be a part of it. I want to see it succeed and be recognized for the accomplishments of our students and faculty, not for the sake of recognition, but because there is something worth celebrating. We have plenty that falls in that category. As we come out of the break next week, do so refreshed and recommitted to giving your all for our students, their families and the community where we work and live. I know our district's best days are ahead, and with your help, good news will roll quickly. Have a great break!

Sincerely,
James D. Smith
Superintendent
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FIVE GRIFFIN-SPALDING COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM STUDENTS NAMED REACH GEORGIA SCHOLARS
The Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) held its inaugural REACH Georgia Scholarship signing ceremony for five middle school students at the Kiwanis Club of Griffin on October 4.

REACH Georgia Scholars are selected in middle school and sign a contract along with their parent/guardian to maintain a 2.5 GPA, remain crime, drug and behavior issue free and meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach until they graduate from high school. Each Scholar who completes all program requirements will receive up to $10,000 that was earmarked to him/her in the 8th grade. The Scholar is able to receive up to $2,500 per year, for up to four years, to be used towards the cost of attendance to a two or four-year Georgia REACH program eligible institution of their choosing.
 
The GSCS 2017 REACH Georgia Scholars are:
Carlos Alvarez, Cowan Road Middle
Diego Deliz, Rehoboth Road Middle
Thavious Neal, Rehoboth Road Middle
Marcoiya Sutton, Kennedy Road Middle
Emily VanEps, Carver Road Middle

The five GSCS Scholars and their parents signed their scholarship commitments before Griffin Mayor Rodney McCord, Kiwanis Club members, and GSCS Superintendent Jim Smith, mentors, principals and cabinet members.
Read more...

BALDRIDGE NAMED 2017-18 DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Jackson Road Elementary Teacher Joan Baldridge is this year's Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) Teacher of the Year. She will now represent the district in the 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.

Joan Baldridge began her career in Special Education as a paraprofessional in 2007. She began her teaching career in Kindergarten, moving to pre-k the next school year. In 2014, Joan fulfilled her dreams of being a Special Education teacher at Jackson Road Elementary School. She has been the self-contained MOID teacher for three years now.

In her application Baldridge stated "I want the world to know that every single day teachers come to school with the sole purpose of igniting fires. We work tirelessly to design our teaching to spark an idea, fan a flame and see recognition ablaze in the eyes of our students. We are passionate about what we do. We are lifelong learners with many of us being Masters, Specialist or Doctors. We research, read, and learn new ways to interest our students. We stoke those little fires when they wain with brain breaks, innovative project based learning and new and improved technology. We are empowering our future leaders. We are fire starting, flame fanning, fully involved five alarm structures. I am one of these powerful people."
Read more...
BOE BRIEFS
Click HERE to view the October 3 board briefs.





ALL GSCS SCHOOLS RECEIVE SCORES OF 100 ON FALL HEALTH INSPECTIONS
The Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) Nutrition Department received health inspection scores of 100 for all schools by the Spalding County Health Department during the 2017 fall inspection cycle. All school kitchens are required to conduct food safety compliance inspections.

This is the sixth consecutive year that all GSCS cafeterias have received a perfect score of 100 on their health inspections.

"Food safety is a top priority for all of our sites and these scores reflect that commitment," said GSCS Director of School Nutrition Laura Youmans. "Our managers and assistant managers are ServSafe Manager certified and work to assure that each school meets the highest food safety and sanitation expectations for students and staff. We are proud that our schools continue to maintain 100 health scores. We invite parents and the community to come join us around the table."
Read more...


SHARED SAVINGS INCENTIVE 2018
(CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES ONLY)
Did you know that classified employees may be eligible to receive an extra $2,400 per year? 

To learn more about the Shared Savings Program for 2018 click HERE.

Click HERE to watch the video.
"To encourage literature and the arts
is a duty which every good citizen owes
to his country."
~ George Washington
2018 OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD - OCT. 16 - NOV. 3

State Health Benefits AND Flex Spending

Information can be found on our benefits website:  www.mygscsbenefits.com

2018 FLEX SPENDING
Current enrollment WILL NOT roll over. You must elect coverage for 2018. Annual Limit is $2,600. Unused funds up to $500 in 2017 will roll over to 2018.

2018 STATE HEALTH PLAN OPTIONS
If no action is taken, your current benefits will roll over to 2018
* BCBS - Gold, Silver, Bronze Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Medicare Advantage (MA)
* UHC - High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Medicare Advantage (MA)
* Kaiser Permanente - Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

2018 STATE HEALTH RATES
Plan
You
You + Child(ren)
You + Spouse
You + Family
BCBS Gold
$168.73
$307.13
$418.09
$556.50
BCBS Silver
$110.89
$208.80
$296.62
$394.54
BCBS Bronze
$72.45
$143.46
$215.91
$286.92
BCBS HMO
$135.65
$250.90
$348.63
$463.89
UHC HMO
$172.56
$313.65
$426.14
$567.22
UHC HDHP
$58.03
$118.94
$185.62
$246.54
Kaiser HMO
$142.71
$262.59
$362.49
$482.37

























UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN BEGINS FOR GSCS
GSCS has kicked-off the United Way Fundraising Campaign for the 2017-2018 school year with a goal of $15,000. This year's donation forms are, a hard-to-miss, fluorescent pink instead of the small triplicate forms that we have used in the past. Your school representative will be sending your form to you soon.

As you know, United Way is a very worthy cause. The money that is raised here, stays here. United Way supports several of our community agencies (including our school system) in a number of ways. All of the agencies supported by our local United Way are listed on the bottom of the donation form.

To give to United Way, staff may give a one-time donation via cash or check (make checks payable to United Way) or via monthly payroll deduction. Payroll deduction is available for as little as $1.00 month which becomes $12.00 a year. Please consider giving at least $1.00 a month to help others in our community.

The United Way campaign will run through Tuesday, October 31. Let's try to exceed our goal of $15,000 and show our community that GSCS not only wants to be an agent of change for our students but our community as well!
SHS CHORUS PERFORMED SEASIDE SOUNDS
The Spalding High School Chorus recently performed at the Georgia Aquarium as part of their "Seaside Sounds" program. The students had a chance to explore the aquarium before it opened and then perform a mini concert in the lower atrium. As always, they were stellar representatives of SHS and GSCS!

GRIFFIN HIGH SOCCER RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
For the fourth year in a row, Griffin High School Lady Bears soccer team received the United Soccer Coaches High School Team Academic Award.  The Lady Bears were one of only seven women's soccer teams recognized out of the 390 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) affiliated teams in the state. 
 
"We are very proud of our girls' soccer team for again receiving this prestigious academic award," said Griffin High School Principal Dr. Darrell Evans. "This soccer team is an exemplary representation of what it means to be student athletes.  Successes like this helped our graduation rate improve to 87%, which is higher than the state average.  Good job, Lady Bears!"
 
The Lady Bears were recognized with this prestigious award for having an outstanding grade point average during the 2016 spring season.  The 19 members of the varsity team had a combined 3.39 GPA.  
Read more...
FIVE WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR BREAST CANCER RISK
While you can't change some breast cancer risk factors - family history and aging, for example - there are others that you can control. Having a family history of breast cancer increases your risk, but most women who get breast cancer (about 8 out of 10) do not have it in the family. Although there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, there are things you can do that may lower your likelihood of getting it - whether you have a family history or not.

Click HERE to learn 5 ways to help protect your breast health from the American Cancer Society.
GSCS CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Melinda Owens, Family and Community Engagement Specialist
Melinda has worked tirelessly to train parent liaisons, collaborate with schools and canvas the community for support in an effort to increase parent, family and community engagement within our district. She has cultivated multiple new partnerships within the community, facilitated successful Math and Parent Partnerships workshops with UGA-Griffin and received GaDOE recognition as a 2016 Family Engagement Month Video Contest Winner. Melinda goes above and beyond to fulfill the mission of her position. She is a professional team player and represents our district well. Congratulations!