Gordon County Schools was proud to participate in the 29th Annual Sing for Toys event this morning at Walmart, where all of our elementary school choruses came together to sing Christmas songs and spread holiday cheer. This longstanding Gordon County tradition brings our community together in a powerful way, and we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate once again.
A special thank-you goes to Cynthia McGuire of Walmart, who has supported and strengthened this event every single year through her commitment to building community in Gordon County. We also extend our appreciation to Miranda Bentley, Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center, for her leadership and partnership in making this event meaningful for so many families.
Sing for Toys is a collaborative effort between the Voluntary Action Center, United Way of Gordon County, AdventHealth EMS, Walmart, and student chorus groups from both Calhoun City Schools and Gordon County Schools. Toys and funds collected from this event support the VAC and Walmart’s Annual Christmas Programs. Established in 1997, this tradition now includes second-generation singers whose parents fondly remember performing in the same event years ago.
We can't do this without our choir directors from the elementary schools. Let's give a big shoutout to Bailie Greeson (Belwood Elementary), Katie Hartel (Tolbert Elementary), Jayme Crowley (Fairmount Elementary), Joy Dodd (Sonoraville Elementary), Jeri Dunn (Red Bud Elementary), and Andy McLeod (W.L. Swain Elementary)!
Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped continue this beloved tradition.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
A special thank-you goes to Cynthia McGuire of Walmart, who has supported and strengthened this event every single year through her commitment to building community in Gordon County. We also extend our appreciation to Miranda Bentley, Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center, for her leadership and partnership in making this event meaningful for so many families.
Sing for Toys is a collaborative effort between the Voluntary Action Center, United Way of Gordon County, AdventHealth EMS, Walmart, and student chorus groups from both Calhoun City Schools and Gordon County Schools. Toys and funds collected from this event support the VAC and Walmart’s Annual Christmas Programs. Established in 1997, this tradition now includes second-generation singers whose parents fondly remember performing in the same event years ago.
We can't do this without our choir directors from the elementary schools. Let's give a big shoutout to Bailie Greeson (Belwood Elementary), Katie Hartel (Tolbert Elementary), Jayme Crowley (Fairmount Elementary), Joy Dodd (Sonoraville Elementary), Jeri Dunn (Red Bud Elementary), and Andy McLeod (W.L. Swain Elementary)!
Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped continue this beloved tradition.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
You know you’re in for a good time at Gordon Central High School when you hear Honors Pre-Calculus teacher Elizabeth Parrott diving into sine, cosine, and tangent with her senior class! Students were fully engaged and tackling some challenging questions as they worked through today’s lesson.
It was a great example of rigorous learning and enthusiastic teaching in action.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryGCHS
It was a great example of rigorous learning and enthusiastic teaching in action.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryGCHS
Red Bud Elementary 4th grade teacher Courtney Hyde’s class was hard at work today on their Young Georgia Authors stories. One student was especially excited to share his imaginative fictional tale about his family getting stuck in a dark forest and having to escape dangerous creatures.
The creativity and enthusiasm in the room made it clear that these young authors are off to a great start!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBES
The creativity and enthusiasm in the room made it clear that these young authors are off to a great start!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBES
Ashworth Middle School 6th grade math teacher Coach Chaney Jones worked with students today on solving mathematical word problems and understanding how to evaluate and solve expressions. Students were focused and actively participating as they strengthened their problem-solving skills.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryAMS
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryAMS
Red Bud Middle School’s 8th grade social studies classes enjoyed an extraordinary lesson today from Georgia Studies teacher Ian Robbins. Mr. Robbins taught students about the events leading up to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, bringing history to life in a powerful and engaging way.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Mr. Robbins previously served as a UGA Public History Summer Education Intern at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He used his firsthand experiences and knowledge from the historic site to help students explore the historical context, understand the network of conspirators involved, and examine the impact Lincoln’s death had on post–Civil War America.
Students were fully engaged as they connected classroom learning with real-world historical insight.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBMS
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Mr. Robbins previously served as a UGA Public History Summer Education Intern at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He used his firsthand experiences and knowledge from the historic site to help students explore the historical context, understand the network of conspirators involved, and examine the impact Lincoln’s death had on post–Civil War America.
Students were fully engaged as they connected classroom learning with real-world historical insight.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBMS
Thank you to Lieutenant Brian Brannon of the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department, along with Sheriff Mitch Ralston and the entire GCSD team, for their dedication to serving our schools through the C.H.A.M.P.S. Program. Lt. Brannon worked at Gordon Central High School today and shared exciting updates about this year’s progress.
There are currently 443 fifth-grade students participating in the C.H.A.M.P.S. program across all six county elementary schools. This year, the program also welcomed Deputy Erik Ochoa as a new C.H.A.M.P.S. instructor. His experience and commitment have already made a positive impact on the program’s success.
Students are now halfway through the 12-lesson module, learning about important topics that affect them daily, including internet safety, social media, prescription drugs and opioids, vaping, alcohol, and illegal drug use. These lessons equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make safe, healthy choices.
We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department and appreciate their commitment to educating and supporting our students through the Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety program.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
There are currently 443 fifth-grade students participating in the C.H.A.M.P.S. program across all six county elementary schools. This year, the program also welcomed Deputy Erik Ochoa as a new C.H.A.M.P.S. instructor. His experience and commitment have already made a positive impact on the program’s success.
Students are now halfway through the 12-lesson module, learning about important topics that affect them daily, including internet safety, social media, prescription drugs and opioids, vaping, alcohol, and illegal drug use. These lessons equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make safe, healthy choices.
We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department and appreciate their commitment to educating and supporting our students through the Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety program.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Sonoraville Elementary Pre-K teacher Sarah Sheriff’s class had a lot of fun during center time today as students played, created, and practiced cooperation skills. Paraprofessional Sharon Patureau (pictured) helped Victoria assemble her Rudolph reindeer!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinarySES
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinarySES
Fairmount Elementary kindergarten teacher Stacy Grantham had her students engaged in a phonics lesson today, focusing on how to sound out and spell words as they write. These foundational skills help students understand sound patterns, which play a key role in learning to spell correctly. It was a great example of early literacy instruction in action.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryFES
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryFES
Belwood Elementary REACH teacher Tim Gilreath brought STEM learning to life today as students coded Sphero robots for a festive reindeer game. Students attached reindeer images to their robots and used their coding skills to knock over bowling pins decorated with “grandmas,” creating a fun and engaging blend of creativity, problem solving, and holiday cheer.
Mr. Gilreath consistently incorporates hands-on STEM activities into his gifted classes, and the students’ strong coding abilities were evident once again when he sponsored the Belwood Elementary Robotics Team, who won the inaugural Gordon County Schools Technology Winners' Cup. Beginning this year, the Technology Winners’ Cup is awarded to the elementary school with the highest average scores on locally submitted technology projects. The trophy will stay with the winning school for the year before being passed to the next champion at the start of the local Technology Competition. We are proud to announce that the first-ever Technology Winners' Cup has been awarded to Belwood Elementary School.
In addition to his work with students, Mr. Gilreath recently completed his FIRST LEGO League Challenge certification and was recognized for his service on the Pets in the Classroom Teacher Advisory Committee with the Pet Care Trust. Many in our community know that Mr. Gilreath has classroom guinea pigs, which he uses to support student learning and well-being through meaningful interactions with classroom pets.
Thank you for all that you do, and congratulations to Belwood Elementary!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryBES
Mr. Gilreath consistently incorporates hands-on STEM activities into his gifted classes, and the students’ strong coding abilities were evident once again when he sponsored the Belwood Elementary Robotics Team, who won the inaugural Gordon County Schools Technology Winners' Cup. Beginning this year, the Technology Winners’ Cup is awarded to the elementary school with the highest average scores on locally submitted technology projects. The trophy will stay with the winning school for the year before being passed to the next champion at the start of the local Technology Competition. We are proud to announce that the first-ever Technology Winners' Cup has been awarded to Belwood Elementary School.
In addition to his work with students, Mr. Gilreath recently completed his FIRST LEGO League Challenge certification and was recognized for his service on the Pets in the Classroom Teacher Advisory Committee with the Pet Care Trust. Many in our community know that Mr. Gilreath has classroom guinea pigs, which he uses to support student learning and well-being through meaningful interactions with classroom pets.
Thank you for all that you do, and congratulations to Belwood Elementary!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryBES
W. L. Swain Elementary music teacher Andy McLeod had students working hard in music stations today as they explored a variety of percussion and keyboard instruments. Students practiced playing rhythms on drums and read music to perform on instruments such as bells and a miniature piano. It was great to see students engaged, active, and making music while building foundational skills in music literacy.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryWLS
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryWLS
Tolbert Elementary media specialist Katie Edwards spent time reading to 4th graders today during specials, continuing the outstanding work she does to inspire a love of reading across the school. Mrs. Edwards is dedicated to creating meaningful literacy experiences for students and fostering a vibrant reading community in the media center.
Earlier this year, she delivered a lightning talk for the University of West Georgia School Library Virtual Conference, a professional event for school library media specialists and administrators focused on innovation in literacy. Her presentation highlighted how Tolbert Elementary is using Wonderbooks to engage and motivate young readers. These interactive books were added to the library last year thanks to support from the Ratner Grant, and they have quickly become a favorite among students.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryTES
Earlier this year, she delivered a lightning talk for the University of West Georgia School Library Virtual Conference, a professional event for school library media specialists and administrators focused on innovation in literacy. Her presentation highlighted how Tolbert Elementary is using Wonderbooks to engage and motivate young readers. These interactive books were added to the library last year thanks to support from the Ratner Grant, and they have quickly become a favorite among students.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryTES
Gordon County Schools is proud to recognize National Special Education Day, a day that honors the students, families, educators, and support staff who make our special education programs strong and meaningful.
We are grateful for our dedicated special education teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and support teams who work tirelessly to meet the unique needs of every learner. Their expertise and commitment ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and grow.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
We are grateful for our dedicated special education teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and support teams who work tirelessly to meet the unique needs of every learner. Their expertise and commitment ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and grow.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Gordon County Schools is proud to congratulate Beth Herod, Director of Early Learning and Elementary Education, on becoming the new President of the Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS). Effective immediately, President-Elect Herod will assume the full role of GACIS President.
Beth brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to supporting instructional leaders across Georgia, and a strong understanding of the mission and values of GACIS. Her leadership will continue to strengthen curriculum and instructional support statewide.
Please join us in congratulating Beth on this significant achievement and welcoming her as she steps into this important role. We look forward to the vision, energy, and dedication she will bring to GACIS.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Beth brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to supporting instructional leaders across Georgia, and a strong understanding of the mission and values of GACIS. Her leadership will continue to strengthen curriculum and instructional support statewide.
Please join us in congratulating Beth on this significant achievement and welcoming her as she steps into this important role. We look forward to the vision, energy, and dedication she will bring to GACIS.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Happy Thanksgiving from Gordon County Schools! We hope each of you has an extraordinary day with family and friends. #ExtraordinaryGCS
Our December breakfast and lunch menus are slap-full of delicious meals and some special treats. National Cookie Day is Thursday, December 4th and our popular Christmas Brunch for Lunch is Tuesday, December 16th -- featuring a fantastic new warm and fluffy Cinnamon Biscuit.
Gordon County Schools extends a heartfelt thank-you to our substitute teachers for the essential role they play in supporting our students, classrooms, and staff.
Substitutes step in with flexibility, professionalism, and care, often on short notice, to keep learning moving forward. Their willingness to help, adapt, and support our schools makes a tremendous difference each day.
We appreciate your dedication to our students and your commitment to making sure teaching and learning continue smoothly. Thank you for everything you do for Gordon County Schools.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Substitutes step in with flexibility, professionalism, and care, often on short notice, to keep learning moving forward. Their willingness to help, adapt, and support our schools makes a tremendous difference each day.
We appreciate your dedication to our students and your commitment to making sure teaching and learning continue smoothly. Thank you for everything you do for Gordon County Schools.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Excellent work in Lacey Mullinax’s 8th grade science class as students learn the difference between acceleration and velocity and practice describing how acceleration occurs! Their thoughtful responses and active participation show a strong grasp of these key physical science concepts. #ExtraordinaryRBMS #ExtraordinaryGCS
At Red Bud Elementary, Mr. Maldonado’s second graders are showing creativity and gratitude as they write about what they are thankful for and craft fun turkey projects to accompany their work! It is wonderful to see students expressing themselves while building writing skills in such an enjoyable way. #ExtraordinaryRBES #ExtraordinaryGCS
Outstanding learning in Mrs. Weaver’s classroom as GCHS science students dive into explaining and describing genetically modified organisms! Their thoughtful discussions and growing understanding show strong engagement with this important scientific concept. #ExtraordinaryGCHS #ExtraordinaryGCS
Great work happening in Mr. Peacock’s 8th grade social studies class as students build visual literacy by analyzing Civil War political cartoons to better understand the war’s impact on Georgia! This meaningful approach helps students think critically and see history through multiple perspectives. #ExtraordinaryAMS #ExtraordinaryGCS
