COMMUNICATOR
SYSTEM-WIDE NEWS FOR GSCS EMPLOYEES
January 2-6, 2017
In This Issue
BOE BRIEFS
Click HERE to view January's Board of Education meeting briefs
2016 PIE Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Scholarship recipients were recognized and received their checks. Click HERE to view a list of recipients.


















The SOAR (Safe, Orderly and Respectful) Transportation Team was recognized. Click HERE to view a list of the SOAR team members.

















Most Valuable Parent for December was recognized. Pictured (L-R): Orrs Elementary Assistant Principal Shavon Beckett, Orrs Elementary Principal Evelyn Jones, December District MVP Sunny Norwood and Orrs Elementary Parent Liaison Candice Moore
GSCS Communications Department was recognized for being awarded with one Gold Award and four Silver Awards. Pictured (L-R): Communications Specialist Laura Beaber, Executive Director of Communications Judy Parker, APR and Superintendent Jim Smith

GSCS OFFERS SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
This year, the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) will offer a Summer Enrichment Program. The program will provide selected students with an opportunity to improve academic performance and become college and career ready through an engaging and enriching experience of high quality instruction.
 
The goal of the Summer Enrichment Program is to strategically support the achievement of students by providing additional support in English Language Arts (ELA).  Based on reading measures of academic progress, the program will target kindergarten (rising first grade), second grade (rising third grade and seventh grade (rising eighth grade) students. A summer program will also be offered for high school students needing to recover credit in ninth grade Literature. The curriculum will mainly focus on ELA but will incorporate math and science literacy standards.
 
Students will be selected for this summer program based on academic need and criteria set by the federal funding. Letters will go out to qualified students starting in January.
Read more...

 
GSCS POLICIES
The Griffin-Spalding Board of Education (BOE) regularly review policies. Once the first reading of a policy has been completed, the policy is posted on eBoard. Stakeholders then have the option to review these pending policies and submit comments on eBoard.
"Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed."
~ Cavett Robert

NEW REPORT FINDS GEORGIA GRADES HARDER
The January edition of The GAEL Flyer releases the preliminary report on How Georgia's School Accountability Compares with Other States done by Richard Welsh, UGA professor. The report states, "Overall, it appears that Georgia has a harsher grading scale than other Southeastern states." 

Click  HERE to read the full article.
PARENTS GUIDE TO CCRPI

Need help explaining the CCRPI to parents? Click HERE for The Parent's Guide to Georgia's College and Career Ready Performance Index.
GSCS PARENT ENGAGEMENT WINS VIDEO CONTEST
Congrats to GSCS Parent Engagement for winning the GaDOE 2016 Family Engagement Month Video Contest!

Click HERE to see the announcement of the contest results.

Click HERE to view the GSCS Parent Engagement video.

As a result of winning the contest, the video will be featured during the Georgia Compensatory Educational Leaders (GCEL) Conference in February and highlighted on their online video channel. GSCS will also receive a visit from State Superintendent of Schools, Richard Woods.

Congratulations!
NINE RESOLUTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY IN 2017
www.techlicious.com
Gearing up for your New Year's resolutions to get fit, do more or do less? Don't forget your online life. For most of us, smartphones and computers are the main repository of our favorite photos, our biggest work projects, and of course our greatest sources of entertainment.
 
With all of 2017 stretching ahead, now's the perfect time to set in place some healthy habits for managing your technology.
 
1. Sort out your antivirus protection.
2. Use a password manager.
3. Download program updates.
4. Delete unneeded programs and files.
5. Deep clean your computer and smartphone. 
6. Do a privacy tune-up.
7. Recycle old electronics and batteries.
8. Create backups.
9. Unplug and tune out every so often. 
 
Here's to a productive and enjoyable 2017!

Click HERE to read the full article.
Regal Griffin 10 Cinemas and other area movie theaters are promoting our job fairs!

 Click HERE for our non-discrimination statement.

* The Communicator is edited using the AP Stylebook 2010 edition.

Laura Beaber, Editor 
GSCS Communications and Partnerships Department 
770-229-3700 
www.spalding.k12.ga.us