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Family 411 The Griffin-Spalding County School System
Volume VII, Issue 1, Fall 2019
Mark Your Calendar!
Welcome back, I am delighted to bring you the first issue of the Family 411. This is the Griffin-Spalding County School System’s district-wide parent engagement newsletter. This newsletter will provide you with the latest news and upcoming events in the school system as well as tips and resources to use throughout the year. We hope you will find the information interesting and useful. If you have any questions regarding the newsletter please feel free to contact me. Yours truly, Melinda Owens District Family & Community Engagement Specialist 770-229-3710, ext 10363 or [email protected]
District Parent and Family Engagement Policy
The district parent and family engagement policy is the foundation of home, school and community partnerships. It sets forth the expectations for parent engagement activities and describes how these activities will be implemented and evaluated. You can read the policy on the GSCS website at: http://www.spalding.k12.ga.us/Students--Parents/Family-and-Community-
Engagement/index.html
If you have any comments, concerns or suggestions, please contact Melinda Owens at
770-229-3710 ext 10363, at [email protected] or at 216 S. 6th Street Griffin, GA 30224.
System Wide October 7-11 Fall Break November 25-29 Thanksgiving Break December 23, 2019 -January 7, 2020 Christmas Break
Elementary
October 3 Elementary Student Showcase—6:00 p.m. December 2-11 Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Screener (K-5 ELA & Math)
Middle October 15 Middle School Student Showcase—6:00 p.m. December 2-11 Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Screener (6-8 ELA & Math) December 18-20 Semester Final Exams
High October 16 PSAT Administration October 17 High School Student Showcase—6:00 p.m. November 5-15 GA Milestones EOC Mid-Month Administration December 3-13 GA Milestones EOC Winter Administration December 16-17 End of Pathway Assessment December 18-20 Semester Final Exams
RCDs for Stakeholders
Parents are you looking for free resources? Visit the Rigorous Curriculum Dialogue (RCD) for Stakeholders: https://sites.google.com/gscs.org/rigorous-curriculum-dialogue *The listed resources are not endorsed by GSCS but are offered as possible tools that families may utilize
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Partnering with Zero to Five, Pre-K and community organizations and businesses
2018-2019 Spring Parent Survey Results
The Griffin-Spalding County School System had 1,785 responses to the Title I Spring Parent Questionnaire. • 93% of parents believe their child is prepared to transition to the next grade level. • Best Sources of Information for Parents:
My Child - 69% Teachers - 55% School Newsletter - 50% School Phone Calls - 59%
• Most Effective Communication Channels: Open House - 86% Automated Phone Calls (ParentLink) - 93% Parent-teacher Conferences - 88%
• Parent Struggles:
Helping with Homework - 17% Attending School Functions - 17% Motivating My Child Academically - 18% Meeting Teachers - 13% Knowing School Policies - 12%
• 73% of parents attended classes, workshops or programs on how parents can help children have more academic success.
• 79% of parents felt their child’s school provided parents with opportunities to share feedback
and ideas regarding the school’s parental engagement program and activities. • Top 4 Topics of Interest:
Standards and Curriculum - 17% Enhancing Parent Engagement - 15% Math Skills - 13% Preparing for Standardized Tests - 11%
• Parent Needs for Workshops: Child Care - 12% Transportation - 9% Interpreter- 3%
• Top Areas Where Parents Volunteered: Helping in Student’s Classroom - 23% Supervising Student Events or Field Trips - 19% Participating in Parent Leadership Organizations (PTO, School Council) - 9%
• 24% of parents indicated they used the school or district Family Resource Center.
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Be Engaged!!!
Keeping in touch with your child’s teacher is one of the best ways to encourage reading success.
Discuss reading topics such as:
• Your student’s reading level
• Books your student can read
• Ways to build reading skills at home
• How to help your student as they read
• Reading related resources for parents
• Appropriate expectations for reading
Q & A about Parent Engagement What is Parent/Family Engagement in Education? According to the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), “Parent engagement is the participation of parents in every facet of the education and development of children from birth to adulthood, recognizing that parents are the primary influences in their children’s lives. Parent engagement takes many forms, including the parents’ shared responsibilities in decisions about their children’s education, health and well-being as well as the parents’ participation in organizations that reflect the community’s collaborative aspirations for all students”. Why is engagement important? Anne T. Henderson, National Committee for Citizens in Education stated, “When schools work together with families to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but throughout life. In fact, the most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income nor social status, but the extent to which that student’s family is able to (1) create a home environment that encourages learning, (2) express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers and (3) become engaged in their children’s education at school and in the community”.
Resources for Families
• Title I Information Sheet English Link: http://www.spalding.k12.ga.us/documents/Students%20and%20Families/Parent%20Engagement/2019-2020%20Parent%20Engagement%20Resources/2019-2020%20Title%20I%20Information%20Sheet%20English.pdf • Title I Information Sheet Spanish Link: http://www.spalding.k12.ga.us/documents/Students%20and%20Families/Parent%20Engagement/2019-2020%20Parent%20Engagement%20Resources/2019-2020%20Title%20I%20Information%20Sheet%20Spanish.pdf • English Learners (EL) Family Guide English Link: http://www.spalding.k12.ga.us/documents/Students%20and%20Families/Parent%20Engagement/EL%20Parent%20Guide%20English.pdf • English Learners (EL) Family Guide Spanish Link: http://www.spalding.k12.ga.us/documents/Students%20and%20Families/Parent%20Engagement/EL%20Parent%20Guide%20Spanish.pdf • Gifted Program Parent Information Presentation Fall 2019 Link: http://www.spalding.k12.ga.us/Students--Parents/Family-and-Community-Engagement/index.html
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Did you know that your child’s school has a least one Parent Engagement Liaison? These “Parent Liaisons” are certified staff members who plan fun, academic workshops and activities. You can contact your Parent Engagement Liaison at any time to find out about upcoming workshops or ways to volunteer at the school. Get to know your school’s Parent Engagement Liaison. Anne Street Elementary Atlantia Clements Atkinson Elementary Kamilah Gordon Beaverbrook Elementary Ashley Baldwin Cowan Road Elementary Allison Baker Crescent Elementary Rhonda Grubb Futral Road Elementary Jessica Lalumiere Jackson Road Elementary April Kisner Jordan Hill Elementary Jennifer Wilson Moore Elementary Cardia Foster Moreland Road Elementary Anissa Andrews & Katlyn Durham Orrs Elementary Paige Samples Carver Road Elementary Jada Ingram & Rebecca Murray Cowan Road Middle Tara Riggs Kennedy Road Middle Tiana Fowler Rehoboth Road Middle Leighanne Crawford A.Z. Kelsey Academy Tonga Releford Griffin High Dedrey Elam Spalding High Julia Fletcher
MVPs for August
• Anne Street Elementary - Tiffany Cog-gins
• Beaverbrook Elementary - Faye Wright • Cowan Road Elementary - April Hester* • Crescent Elementary - Natalie Davis • Jackson Road Elementary - Katie Bateman • Jordan Hill Elementary - Crystal Weems • Kennedy Road Middle - Eric Wilson • Rehoboth Road Middle - Michelle Knight • Griffin High - Linda Adair • Spalding High - Robin Chambers
MVPs for September
• Anne Street Elementary - David Matthews • Cowan Road Elementary - Gabriel Sandi, Penny Holland and Yolanda Hedum • Crescent Elementary - Alexis Pruitt • Futral Road Elementary - Rachel Gray • Jackson Road Elementary - Tim and Torri
Brakefield • Moreland Elementary - Jordan Chandler • Orrs Elementary - Janet Zepeda-Sanchez • Cowan Road Middle - Kathy Hornsby • Kennedy Road Middle - Sonji Monroe • Rehoboth Road Middle - Faye Wright • Griffin High - April Streit and Robin
Roberson • Spalding High - Martisha Clemmons*
*District MVP - Congratulations!
Parent Engagement Day
November 21, 2019
• Get the facts!
• Get connected!
• Get involved!
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Parent Right to Know
In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Griffin-Spalding County School System would like to inform you that you may request information about the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher(s) and/or paraprofessional(s). The following information may be requested: • Whether the student’s teacher:
has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.
• Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications. If you wish to request information concerning your child’s teacher’s and/or paraprofessional’s qualifications, please contact Melissa Ritter of the Human Resources Department by phone at 770-229-3700, by email at [email protected] or in person at 223 S. 6th Street, Griffin, GA 30224.
Family 411
Help Your Student Succeed
Help your child succeed in school for the
remainder of this year with these study
strategies for you and your child:
• Keep a calendar of all assignments
and tests
• Review notes and handouts on a
daily basis
• Read for at least 20 minutes a day
• Play games that promote learning
• Show ongoing excitement and
interest towards school
• Communicate with the teacher on a
regular basis
FREE Family Resources
Visit the District Family Resource Center located in the Parent Services Center, Room B112 on 234 E. Taylor Street. Open by appointment, parents can browse through an assortment of activities, brochures and books to find wonderful resources. In addition, computers and internet access are also available.
To make an appointment, please contact
Melinda Owens at 770-229-3710, ext 10363 or at [email protected].
• Elementary Schools – October 3, 2019
• Middle Schools – October 15, 2019
• High Schools – October 17, 2019
Contact your child’s school for more information!
eRead Kids is a program developed by Georgia Public Library Services and funded by the Georgia General Assembly to increase accessible reading options for our youngest children when learning reading skills is critical. The selection includes picture books, fiction and non-fiction titles that can be downloaded onto a table, smartphone or computer. Access is easy: click on the link from the library’s webpage at https://www.frrls.net and log in using your PINES library card and PIN.
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The Family 411 is also available electronically. The e-version includes links to helpful resources, staff e-mail and is sent directly to you! Want to receive the Family 411 via e-mail? Send your preferred e-mail address to: [email protected].
Estimados padres: Este es un documento importante de la escuela de su hijo. Si ustedes necesitan que traduzcamos esta información, por favor, llamen a Lisa Bates al 770-229-3700 ext. 10327.
If you have questions or would like further information regarding anything in this newsletter, please contact Melinda Owens at (770)229-3710 ext. 10363 or [email protected]. *The listed resources are not endorsed by GSCS but offered as possible tools that families may utilize.
For information on the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE), visit the GeorgiaStandards.org website page.
This website also offers a variety of free resources to help you motivate and support your child’s curriculum at home while reinforcing the standards your child is working on in the classroom.
Computer Science
English Language Arts
Fine Arts
Mathematics
Physical Education
Science
Social Studies
World Language
GSCS has lots of ways that you can get engaged on the web! Check out some of the pages below to view system news, events and tips.
Do you like the Griffin-Spalding County School System on Facebook? Like our page: The Griffin-Spalding County School System, Griffin GA Do you like the Griffin-Spalding County School System Family Engagement Program on Facebook? Like our page: GSCS Family Engagement Have you visited the GSCS system parent engagement webpage at https://tinyurl.com/GSCSFamilyEngagementPage? The family engagement page has information on upcoming family engagement events, information about the district Family Resource Center and academic websites for your student. Check it out today! Hashtag: #GSCSEmpoweringFamilies
EAR INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN
An ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by bacteria. Children who are prone to allergies tend to have more frequent ear infections and three of four children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. In fact, ear infections are the most common reason parents take their child to a doctor. The typical ear infection causes a “plugged ear”. This causes an interruption of language development in younger children and studies show that even a mild hearing loss creates a language delay of over one year. Older children will have a difficult time hearing their instructor, resulting in incomplete reception of information, homework, etc. Have your child’s hearing tested by an audiologist to give them the best start to the new school year! For more information, contact Griffin Regional Educational Service Agency (GRESA) at 770-229-3247 and ask to speak to one of their audiologists.