The Buzz DECEMBER 2014

The Thomas County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or

national origin, sex, or disability.

Thomas County Board of Education Monthly Newsletter

Please visit the school websites for a complete

calendar of events.

Dec. 11 - TCCHS Chorus Concert, Hand-In-Hand Gym, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 14 - TCMS Band Concerts,TCMS Gym, 2:30 p.m. (6th) & 3:30 p.m. (7th & 8th)

Dec. 18 - TCCHS Band Concert, TCCHS Gym, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 20 - SWAYJ (TCCHS & Walmart)

Dec. 22 - Jan. 2 - Winter Break

Jan. 5 - Teacher Workday/Student Holiday

Jan. 5 - CPR, Cross Creek, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon; First Aid, 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 - Techno Expo, TCMS

The Buzz is a monthly publication of the Thomas County Schools.

Send suggestions or comments to Melanie Hester, 200 North

Pinetree Blvd., Thomasville, GA 31792; 229.225-4380, ext. 115;

mhester@thomas.k12.ga.us. The Buzz is available online at

www.thomas.k12.ga.us, News and Events tab.

CalendarHighlights

Dear friends:

EventhoughitisnottraditionallyassociatedwiththeChristmasstory,John14:27isoneofmyfavoriteexpressionsofpeaceandgiftgivingthatbringsusjoyatthisspecialtimeoftheyear. TheBabywhosebirthiscelebratedatChristmastaughtusaboutthegiftthatisgivenwithnoexpectationofanythinginreturn,not“astheworldgives,”butisgiventobringPeace,notinthesenseoftheabsenceofwar,butthatinternalpeacethatfreesthetroubledheart. Iamsoproudtobeassociatedwithsuchagenerousschoolsystemfamilythatgives“notastheworldgives.”Iwasmovedtotearsseveraltimesduringourschoolsystem’srecentremembranceofVeteransDay.AsIvisitedmostoftheschoolsthatday,IsawourchildrenbeingledastheygavehomagetotheVeteranswhoserveandhaveservedournation.Thankyouforbeingsuchfineexamplesforourchildren. ThroughouttheChristmasseason,ourschoolsareengagedinnumerousexpressionsofloveandservice.Fromthe“MarchoftheCans”fooddriveatHand-in-HandtotheShopwithaYellowJacket(SWAYJ)programatThomasCountyCentral,everystudentinthesystemhasanopportunitytolearnthevalueandjoyofgiving.EventhoughitisnotpartoftheCommonCoreandwillnevershowuponaMilestoneassessment,youtakethetimetomodelit,teachit,andliveit.Iamproudtobeassociatedwithsuchalovingandcommittedfacultyandstaff.Thankyouforallthatyoudotohelpourchildrenlearntogive“notastheworldgives.” Ourspecialthoughtsandprayersarewiththosewhoareillorwhoareprovidingcaretoillfamilymembersthisholidayseason. IhopethattheChristmasvacationgiveseachofyoutheopportunitytospendtimewithyourfamilyandtorefreshyourselfphysically,mentally,andspiritually.Ifyouneedmyassistanceovertheholidays,pleasee-mailmeatdkorn@rose.net. BestwishestoeachofyouforaMerryChristmasandaHappyNewYear!

“Not as the world gives...”

Message from the Superintendent

Hakeem Stevens stands with his winning artwork and TCCHS Art Teacher Jocelyn Rivard.

Stevens Wins Best in Show

for PWAF Artwork

ThomasCountyCentralHighSchool’sJuniorHakeemStevenswon“BestofShow”forhisartworkintheJuniorWildlifeArtsExhibit(JWAE)contestfor6th-12thgraders.Hisgraphitepencilwork“FishermanwithFishClouds,”waschosenas“BestofShow”among50entriesfromallofthelocalschools.Ofthe50entriesacceptedforexhibition,TCCHSenteredsixworks,allofwhichwereselectedfordisplay. Hakeemreceiveda$1,100scholarshiptowardaone-weeksummerintensiveartcampattheSavannahCollegeofArtandDesign.Inaddition,TCCHS’sartprogramreceived$500forhavingthe“BestinShow”winner.

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

BuzzThe“Teaching is the profession that teaches all of the other professions.”

- Author Unknown-

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OnJanuary5,2015,ThomasCountyUpperElementaryandThomasCountyMiddleSchoolwillholditssecondannual“TechnoExpo.”Onthisprofessionallearningday,teacherswillattendsessionsinordertolearnhowtointegratetechnologyintotheirclassrooms. Thesessionswillbeconductedbyteachersandotherstaffmembersfromtheschool.SomesessionswillincludeinformationonhowtouseQuizlet,postinginstructionalvideostoteacherwebpages,TurnItIn,creatingandusingQRcodes,andhowtofindinformationusingGALILEO.PresentationswillalsoincludeinstructionalstrategiessuchasCloseReadingandFormativeAssessment. MelvinHugans,TCUE

assistantprincipal,isorganizingtheeventforthesecondyear. “Itisimportanttorememberthattechnologyandintegratingtechnologyintoinstructionisonlyoneaspectofthelearningprocess,”Huganssaid.“Neithercanbeasubstituteforwell-trainedteachers.Thiseventwillallowteachersinourschooltosharetheirknowledgeofdifferenttechnologytoolssothatotherteacherswillbeabletousethemaswell.” Theeventwillbeopentoallteachersinthesystemthisyear.SyllabifromeachpresentationwillbepostedonthesystemtechnologypageaftertheTechnoExpohasended. Pleasee-mailMelvinHugansatmhugans@rose.netifyouhaveanyquestions.

Sixth grade students work on technology in the classroom.

TCMS and TCUE Will Hold Techno Expo on January 5 Artworkhadtobe

basedonthe“CelebratingtheSportingLife”theme.Studentswereencouragedtodepictascenethatcapturesasportsmanorwomaninthemoment.Optionsincludedhunting(suchasbiggame,smallgame,waterfowl,orfoxhunting)orfishing(hand-fishing,spearfishing,flyingfishing,orangling). “TheprojectmademethinkofafewshowsIsawonDiscovery,”statedStevens.“Thehostalwayscatchestheseamazingandbizarrelookingfish;Iwantedtodrawthatmomentwhenheletsusgetagoodlookatthatfishinhishandsaliveandthriving.” Tootheraspiringyoungartists,Stevensadvises,“Practicingisanimportantpartintrainingyourhandandeyesforart.Nevergiveupandkeepinmindthatifyoukeepatit,youwillgetbetter.” FirstPlaceforthe11thto12thgradedivisionwenttoTCCHSJuniorSophieAnderson,forhermixedmediawork,“HunterandHisDog.”Andersonwon“BestofShow”lastyearatJWAE. Herpiecefeaturesacut-outofahunterandhisdog,placedonapaintedfield,withaskymadefromamappaintedwithatargetandclouds.“IwasinspiredbyapictureofJasperJohn’stargetpaintings,”statesAndersonaboutthework. “ThiswasamixedmediapiecethatIdidalotofcollagewithtexturedpapers,pen,

andtempera,andamapofthecoastlineofGeorgia,”Andersoncontinued.“It’sgoodpracticetogooutsideofyourcomfortzone.” ArtteacherMrs.JocelynRivard,said,“TheCenterfortheArtscomesupwithcreativeJWAEthemeseveryyear.Studentswerechallengedtoincludefigureandportraitdrawingthistimearound,andtheresultsbyourTCCHSartistsaresodifferentin their use of media and subjectmatter.” Thejudgefortheshowwasa2014PWAFfeaturedartistEldridgeHardie,atopsportingartist.Abirdhunterandflyfisherman,hissignaturestyleistomakesportingmomentsliveinhispaintings. “IappreciatetheCenterfortheArts’annualsponsorshipoftheJuniorWildlifeArtsexhibitwhichprovidesareastudentstheopportunitytodisplaytheirworkforthepublic,”Dr.DustyKornegaysaid.“UnderthedirectionofMrs.JocelynRivard,ThomasCountyCentralHighSchoolstudentscompetestate-wideinnumerouseventseachyearandbringhomemanytopprizes.Wearefortunatetohavesuchtalentedstudentsandarehonored to have one of the state’sbestarteducatorstomentorthemastheyhonetheirtalents.” TheannualartcontestissponsoredbytheThomasvilleCenterfortheArtsandFlowersFoods.

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NEED CPR? FIRST AID?CPR & First Aid will be offered on Monday, January 5, at Cross Creek. The morning CPR session is from 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon. The First Aid session will begin at 12:30 p.m. Please sign up on PDExpress to attend the training sessions.

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This Christmas season at TCCHS,teachersarelendingahelpinghandinauniqueway:bysharingtheirvoices. Agroupofteacherscametogethertorecorda CD in order to raise funds for the annualShopwithaYellowJacket(SWAYJ)project.TheCDistitled“It’saYellowJacketChristmas2014”andCDsare$10apiece. AllprofitsmadearebeingdonatedtofundgroupsparticipatinginSWAYJ.ForSWAYJ,groupsofatleastfourstudentssignupto“adopt”achildforthedayafterraising$100forthechildtospendongiftsforhisorherfamilyandasmallgiftforthemselves. Though nervous for thereactionofthekidsandthecommunityasawhole,teacherswereexcitedtobeapartofsuchafunfundraiserforagoodcause. “It’salittlescarytoputyourselfoutthereandrecordasong,butwhenyouknowit’sforagoodcauseyoujustcan’tsayno,”teacherLeighBarwicksaid.“MyhopeisthathundredsofCDswillsellsothatwecanpositivelyimpactthelivesofchildrenandtheirfamiliesduringthisholidayseason.It’sprojectslikethisthatmakemeproudtobepartofTCCHS!” SometeacherswereinspiredtosingsongsthatputthemintheChristmasspiritandonestheythoughtwouldbeperfectfortheCD. “Ireallyenjoyedrecordingthesong,‘MerryChristmas,Baby’,”teacherKimseyHodge

TCCHS Teachers Sing to Fundraise for “Shop with a Yellow Jacket”

By Mikayla Fillyaw, TCCHS student reporter

said.“ItwasasongthatIoriginallyheardOtisReddingsingandlovedit.IthoughtitwasasongthatwasasunusualastheCDprojectitself.”

Some studentsalsohavebeeninvolvedwiththeproject.BroadcastingstudentHayesNelsonhelpedrecordthetracks,whichallowed

himtoassistwiththeactualproductionoftheCDand,intheprocess,taughthimmoreaboutsoundrecordingandediting. “Itwasawonderfullearningexperienceandgavememoreexperienceinthefield,”Nelsonsaid.“Ithinkitisawonderfulideasincewegettoshowoffourschool’stalentandraisemoneyforagoodcause.” TheteachersthatrecordedthesongsareallbigadvocatesofSWAYJandparticipateyearlytohelpprovideagoodChristmasforinneedcommunitychildren. “Everyyear,mysonsandIparticipateinSWAYJbecause,tome,itiswhatthetruespiritofChristmasisallabout,”Hodgesaid.“IthasbecomeoneofourfavoritetraditionsintheHodgehousehold,towatchachild’sfacelightupastheybuypresentsfortheirfamilyandhim/herself.It’safeelinglikenoother!” CDsarestillavailableandwillbesoldthroughDec.19atTCCHS.ThisisthelastdayofschoolbeforeWinterBreakandthedaybeforeSWAYJ.AnyonewishingtopurchaseaCDshouldseeNancyPickettintheAdminIIoffice.

HARVESTING LITERACY IN A PUMPKIN PATCH - The4thAnnualLiteracyPumpkin Patch at Cross Creek cropped up in Michele Dechman’s andJen Mobley’s classes. Students selected their favorite book to read,summarizedthebook,thenusedtheirimaginationstocreatea“pumpkincharacter” from the story. Students did an outstanding job, and thepumpkins were amazing. The pumpkin patch was visited by parents,community members, and other classes throughout the day. SarahStewart,picturedabovewithMrs.Mobley,sentapictureofherpumpkintotheDuckDynastycrew.Afewweekslater,Sarahreceivedapostcard(pictured left) from the group of celebrities saying that they loved herpumpkin.Mrs.MobleysaidSarahwasthrilledwiththeirresponse.

VETERANS DAYHONORING ALL WHO SERVED

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FBLA WALKS TO SUPPORT MARCH OF DIMES - A group of localstudentschosetowalkforacauseinsteadofsleepinginthefirstweekendofThanksgivingbreak.ThomasCountyCentralHighSchoolFutureBusinessLeaderofAmerica(FBLA)clubmemberstraveledtoCallawayGardensinPineMountainNov.23.Eachyear,Callawayputson“Fantasy inLights,”adisplayofChristmaslightsthatcarscandrivethrough.FBLAmemberswalkedtheeight-milepathinsupportoftheMarchofDimes,anon-profitorganizationwhichraisesmoneyforprematurebirths.PicturedareEmilyDukes((L-R),ShelbyMitchell,ErinPearson,JaneGuo,andMasonLawing.

MARCH OF THE CANS-Hand-In-HandPrimarySchoolheldtheirannual“MarchoftheCans”wherealloftheclassestooktheirdonationsfromthefooddrivetothefrontoffice.AngieManning’sclasswasthetopcollectionwinner.ElizabethJohnson’sclasscollectedthesecondhighestamountofcans.Theschoolcollectedatotalof1,941cans.Attachedisaphotoof(LtoR)DrakeMcLeod,TuckerHester,andArmoneiTurnerwhoarestudentsinLauraAnnDavis’skindergartenclass.

OPPORTUNITY HATCHES FOR GARRISON-PILCHER STUDENTS - Astudent’s family from KaseyMcKenzie's class supplied Garrison-Pilcherwith30chickeneggs.Theeggswereplacedintheschool’sincubatoronNovember10.Eachoftheeggswasplacedinalittlecupinaneggturnerfor18days.Veryslowly,theturnerrotatedtheeggsfromlefttorightlikeahenwoulddoifsheweresittingonthem.Onthe21stdayofincubation,the chicks began hatching. Monday, before the kids left school, threechickshadbeenborn.When the students returned to school after thebreak, therewereeightmore. TeacherAmandaGenter said, “Thishasbeenanexperiencethatthekidswillnotsoonforget.Wehavelearnedlotsofnewvocabularywhichwaswritteninour"chickjournals"almostdaily.Thekidshavepredictedhowmanychickswouldhatchandhavereadnumerousbooksaboutthechickenlifecycle.Thekidshavelovedeveryminuteof it.Ourentirepod,andmuchof the school,hasexperiencedourlittlemiracles.”PicturedabovefromlefttorightareGarrison-PilcherstudentsAnnaKateSmith,ElijahWilliams,BrandonDaniels,andSophiaStewartholdingthenewbornchicks.

Thisyear,theCrossCreekK-KidsonceagainpartneredwithUNICEFtoraisemoneyformaternalandneonataltetanus,orMNT.EachK-Kidclassroomrepresentativemadeamoneycollectioncontainerfortheirclassroom’sdonations.Inonlyonemonth,theywereabletoraiseagrandtotalof$1,064.77. GriffinPrincefoundacreativewaytoraisedonations.Hemadebraceletstosellatalocalsportingeventearning$40.00anddonatingitalltoUNICEF.Griffin’sclass,representedbyK-KidmemberHunterBrinson,ultimatelywonacontestforbringinginthemostdonations.

Cross Creek K-Kids Club Raises Money for UNICEF

Pictured from left to right are Griffin Prince, Hunter Brogren, and Rachel English.

LeslieAracri,theK-Kidsfacultyadvisor,wasgratefultolocalbusinessesforpartneringwithK-KidstomakethisUNICEFfundraiserasuccess.Wal-MartofThomasvilledonateda$10giftcardtotheK-Kidrepresentativewhosecontainerbestdemonstratedthepurposeofthefundraiser.ThewinnerofthiscontestwasRachelEnglish,afourth-gradestudent. Muchofthedonationscameintheformofchange.TheFarmersandMerchantsBankAssistantManagerDavidDriggerswaskindenoughtoassistwiththehugetaskofgettingallofthechangecounted.