Griffin-Spalding County School System -

Yesterday, GSCS Superintendent Dr. Keith Simmons treated the district's Teachers of the Year to afternoon tea. Everyone enjoyed chatting and "spilling the tea" with their colleagues. These educators were also thanked for being the "best of the best" and representing their school on the superintendent's advisory council with a gift. Thank you to our Partner In Education, The Emerald Chandelier, for hosting this fun event.

GSCS Superintendent Dr. Keith Simmons met with students from all four middle schools today for the first middle school Slices with the Superintendent. They had meaningful conversations about their student experiences. Great feedback! #BuildingRelationships

Atkinson Elementary School will host a job fair on Thursday, November 9, 2023, from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Register to attend using the QR code on the flyer or at https://forms.gle/Y4s9fTzHvsz9vpQd9/

This week, November 6-10, let's show appreciation for our wonderful school psychologists. GSCS School Psychologists are dependable, responsive, resourceful and most importantly COMMITTED to the success and education of our students! During #SchoolPsychWeek show some extra love, gratitude and appreciation for your school's psychologist! #NSPW23 The 2023 National School Psychology Week theme, "Let's Grow Together," is inspired by the importance of both personal and shared strengths in our growth as individuals and school communities in every season of life. The theme recognizes four aspects of growth that are fundamental to effective learning environments and to school psychologists' role in supporting student well-being and learning.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY? YOUR THOUGHTS ARE NEEDED! Our schools, neighborhoods and community play an integral role in shaping the future of our students, and together we have the power to foster positive change. Youth violence is something that affects us all; many of you have been impacted by violence. It is not confined within the walls of our schools; it has ripple effects throughout our community and vice versa. We want to gain deeper insights into the areas and ideas to reduce violence in our community. We value your input and are using ThoughtExchange so everyone has a chance to share their perspectives. Participate in the ThoughtExchange by scanning the QR code or by clicking this link: https://tejoin.com/scroll/715016980 Please share your thoughts and then rate at least 20-30 of the thoughts that others have shared. Your participation is confidential, so no one will know who shared or rated which thoughts. Please be polite and respectful as you share and rate thoughts. Thoughts that are rude or hurtful may be removed from the conversation.

Friday, November 3, is an at-home learning day for all GSCS students.

GSCS Families, This is a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, November 3, is an at-home learning day for all GSCS students. Thank you!

Thank you to Marukan Vinegar for donating $10,000 to Griffin-Spalding Partners In Education! This money will help fund a REACH Scholarship, classroom/field trip grants, teacher tuition reimbursement scholarships and other support for our students and staff. Pictured (L-R): Marukan Vinegar Brewery Director Teddy Blalock and GSCS Superintendent Dr. Keith L. Simmons.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY? YOUR THOUGHTS ARE NEEDED! Participate using the QR code or this link: https://tejoin.com/scroll/715016980 Our schools, neighborhoods and community play an integral role in shaping the future of our students, and together we have the power to foster positive change. Youth violence is something that affects us all; many of you have been impacted by violence. It is not confined within the walls of our schools; it has ripple effects throughout our community and vice versa. We want to gain deeper insights into the areas and ideas to reduce violence in our community. We value your input and are using ThoughtExchange so everyone has a chance to share their perspectives. Please share your thoughts and then rate at least 20-30 of the thoughts that others have shared. Your participation is confidential, so no one will know who shared or rated which thoughts. Please be polite and respectful as you share and rate thoughts. Thoughts that are rude or hurtful may be removed from the conversation.

GSCS Department of Exceptional Students had an exceptionally fun day at the 2nd Annual Frisbee/Disc Golf Inclusive Sports Event! Students participated in developmental games, frisbee activities, Halloween art & disc golf. Thank you to Griffin High School athletes and volunteers for helping!

Everyone say CHEESE!!! Does anyone recognize these smiling faces from 1985 at Spalding Jr. High Unit 3? #TBT

GSCS is in the planning phases for an Early Learning Program or Center. It is our vision to offer free and/or affordable preschool learning opportunities for three-year-olds within our district. We are assessing our employee and community needs, determining a location and planning the next steps. Please take a few moments to complete the survey with the QR code or at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PREK3Interest. If you have questions or comments, please use our customer service platform Let'sTalk at https://www.k12insight.com/Lets-Talk/embed.aspx?L=PGXN11R9B7LT

Thank you Central Georgia EMC for presenting GSCS with $23,700 for community development! Central Georgia EMC presented the checks this morning to GSCS, the development authority and the chamber at the Griffin Welcome Center. Thank you for supporting our community and school system! Pictured (L-R): GSCS Superintendent Dr. Keith Simmons, Griffin-Spalding Development Authority Executive Director David Luckie, Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce President Michelle Boggus and Central Georgia EMC Key Accounts Executive Brandon Stooksbury

This week was National School Lunch Week! GSCS knows the importance of a healthy school lunch and its impact inside and outside the classroom! Thank you GSCS Nutrition staff for the excellent meals this week and every day! #NSLW23

GSCS was happy to have Henry County School (HCS) leaders visit our schools yesterday to see our Audio Enhancement System and discuss school safety. Pictured (L-R): HCS Director of Security and Safety Johnny Stafford, GSCS School Safety Coordinator Donald Britt, GSCS IT Director Lonny Harper, GSCS Network/Application Specialist Cody Hammond and HCS Supervisor of Safety and Security Kenneth Tucker.

Happy #ThrowbackThursday! Our classrooms may look different today but we are always learning and growing! GHS 1987

Students at Moore Elementary will be spending more time learning outdoors thanks to a Home Depot Foundation grant! Team Depot Members from around the region and GSCS volunteers (including the board chairman, superintendent, principals, teachers, etc.) are working together today, in the rain, to revamp Moore Elementary's courtyard into an outdoor classroom. Moore Elementary's Partners In Education are also helping in the effort.

Traversa Ride 360 is now available for parents and students to download on their Apple or Android mobile devices. Simply search the app store for “Traversa Ride 360” to download and register yourself on the app. This technology will replace VersaTrans MyStop. Traversa Ride 360 is designed so parents and students can access the student’s bus information in the fastest way possible. GPS technology on the bus works with Student Transportation to automatically calculate the timing of a bus route to give the most accurate route data with real-time updates. Parents and students may sign up for notifications to be automatically alerted about changes in a student’s bus status. Guardian User Guide: https://5il.co/26amj Guardian User Guide (Spanish): https://5il.co/26qwm

This week is Georgia Pre-K Week! Now in its 13th year, this weeklong annual event celebrates Georgia’s Pre-K Program, which has educated more than 2 million youth since it began over 30 years ago! GSCS has 22 pre-k classes totaling 456 pre-k students. Throughout the week, GSCS Central Office Administrators, Board of Education Members & Partners In Education will be reading this year's featured book, Cheer: A Book to Celebrate Community by Uncle Ian Aurora, in all of our pre-k classes. Pre-K Week raises awareness for the importance of quality early childhood education. Georgia’s Pre-K Program launched in 1992 as a small pilot program serving 750 four-year-old children in the state. Now, 31 years later, the lottery-funded program has laid a solid foundation for academic excellence and future success in the lives of more than 2 million children in Georgia.

Join GSCS this week in celebrating quality early learning for #GaPreKWeek!