STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP AWARD: Gordon County Schools Special Education Director, Alecia Segursky, was announced as the winner of the prestigious 2022 Phil Pickens Leadership Award by the Georgia Department of Education’s Parent Mentor Partnership!
The Phil Pickens Leadership Award is a statewide honor recognizing outstanding leadership in the collaborative work between home, school, and community to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, outstanding contributions to the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership program, and consistent outstanding leadership accomplishments in special education.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Ms. Segursky. “It is a blessing to work in Gordon County Schools and have the opportunity serve our students with disabilities and their families.”
Segursky won the award during a virtual conference held yesterday in front of the Special Education Services team, her family, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Fraker, Assistant Superintendent Alice Mashburn, Director of Early Learning and Elementary Education Beth Herod, and Director of Federal Programs and Professional Learning Patricia Boswell.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Segursky in the comments below!
To learn more about the award, visit www.gcbe.org/news
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
TOTY CELEBRATION: We have some amazing teachers in Gordon County Schools. Please help us to celebrate the 2022 Gordon Central High School Teacher of the Year, Cynthia Scoggins!
Cynthia Scoggins has taught in the mathematics department and serves as a school leader in her professional learning community. She has been dedicated to her craft as an educator and to the students of Gordon Central since 1998.
Since her own time as a high school student, Scoggins has been passionate about helping others. “When I was in high school, I enjoyed helping my friends learn the material. When they didn’t understand, I would explain it differently and help them learn. I loved seeing them understand and have that “light bulb” moment,” explained Ms. Scoggins. “I also had a few teachers mention to me that I would make a great teacher. This encouraged me as well. My youth director was a teacher and I looked up to her and saw how much she enjoyed her job which also made me think I would enjoy education for a career.”
Ms. Scoggins has a love and passion to help students achieve and grow as leaners which is evident in her instruction, classroom environment, and among her students. When asked if she had any teachers that made a profound impact on her as a student, Scoggins recollected, “I had many teachers that made an impact on me. Mrs. Margene Tremble, my 5th grade teacher went above and beyond just teaching in the classroom. I remember we had art projects, an international food lab, a nighttime star gazing session, and created salt maps for our state project. Another teacher was Mrs. Tina Rush, one of my high school English teachers. She was so hard on us. I worked hard to learn and get an A in her class. It paid off, when I got to college, my English class was super easy because she had over-prepared me. I really appreciated that.”
“Being voted as teacher of the year was an honor. My school made me feel very special with flowers and surprising me by decorating my door. My students and former students all congratulated me in the hallways when I saw them. It brought such excitement. I am not used to getting a lot of attention, so it had me out of my comfort zone. But the honor has encouraged me to do my best and be the best teacher I can be!”
Scoggins was described by her peers as being “a selfless, dedicated teacher who works tirelessly to ensure all students in her classroom are learning at high levels, always willing to offer guidance and supper to her colleagues.” She was also described as “exemplifying all the qualities of an outstanding educator.”
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Scoggins in the comments below for being awarded this prestigious honor!
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PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK: Our Parent Resource Rooms are filled with a variety of books, flash cards, and educational games that are available for elementary and middle school families to check-out and use at home. If you are interested in checking-out resources, contact your school’s Parent & Family Engagement Specialist.
Visit www.gcbe.org/pfe to learn more about GCS Parent & Family Engagement today.
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
✨WORK-BASED LEARNING SPOTLIGHT✨
Tristan Beckman is a junior at Gordon Central High School who has completed the Construction Career Pathway and is currently participating in his first year of work-based learning working at Battlefield Building Supply.
“Tristan is a hard worker and is learning more each day,” stated Battlefield Building Supply owner Ernie Smith. Battlefield Building Supply has employed many Gordon County WBL students and is a valued partner in preparing students to join the workforce.
Interested in learning more about the Gordon County Schools work-based learning program? Visit www.gcbe.org/workbasedlearning
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #WorkBasedLearning #CTAE #OneBIGFamily
Did you know that completing the Free & Reduced Lunch application helps beyond just receiving a free or reduced lunch price? It helps with school funding, possible scholarship eligibility, discount fees for home internet, and possible discounts on test fees.
You can apply online at www.schoolcafe.com, through the SchoolCafé mobile app, or you can get a paper application at your child's school or at www.gcbe.org/mealapplication.
The deadline to submit an application is September 15th!
#GoCoSchools #MoreThanJustAMeal #GCSN #FuelingGA
GCHS SPOTLIGHT: 11 Gordon Central High School students have been named as recipients of CollegeBoard's National Recognition Programs for achievements in school and on College Board assessments. The Recognition Programs helps students stand out during college admissions and connect them with universities nationwide.
From left to right: Jude Clance, Ava Perez, Nathan Clance, Kayla Silvers, Catherine Hughes, Krystal Fuentes, Maximus Stone, Emonie McReynolds, Kaiman Smith, Kelvin Roblero and Hector Sanchez
Learn more about all 15 Gordon County Schools National Recognition Programs awardees by visiting www.gcbe.org/collegeboardnationalrecognition
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ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH: Did you know? Missing 10% of school (more than 2 days a month) can make it harder to:
· Gain early reading and math skills
· Build relationships
· Develop good attendance habits
Help your child by ensuring he/she is at school every day and on time, sending notes when they must be absent due to illness, and supporting your child to develop good attendance habits!
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
We are so proud of the dedicated administration inside of each Gordon County School. Throughout the year, we will be introducing our Principals and Assistant Principals that serve as school leaders in our #OneBIGFamily
Please help us to celebrate Matt Fox, Assistant Principal at Belwood Elementary, by getting to know more about him below:
Q: Why did you want to join the field of education?
Mr. Fox: “There's no better way to have a career that has an impact than through education. The opportunity to help someone find success is a what makes this career special.”
Q: Did you have a teacher (or teachers) who made an impact on you as a student?
Mr. Fox: “I had several teachers that had an impact on me. On the elementary level, Mrs. Williams, my first grade teacher showed tremendous patience and love for each one of us. At the middle school level, Mrs. Robbins helped push me and saw potential I didn't know I had. In high school, Coach Pitts is one that gave all of us a strong individual to look to and a role model within the school building.”
Q: What advice would you give to new teachers?
Mr. Fox: “Know that you are having an impact whether you realize you are or not. Keep finding ways to reach kids and don't ever stop learning new ideas.”
Q: What is your favorite piece of advice to give to your students?
Mr. Fox: “Learn your environment and make good choices. These two simple things will carry anyone a long way.”
Q: What motivates you each day?
Mr. Fox: “We have a sign in the office at Belwood that we are the leaders of future generations, and I will never take that for granted.”
Q: Is there anything that you would like the GCS community to know about you?
Mr. Fox: “I love this community and school system. There's no place I would rather be and I appreciate the opportunity to serve.”
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS
AP SCHOLAR CELEBRATION: The College Board recently named 13 Gordon County Schools students as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school. Students can earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP exams.
College Board recognizes three levels of achievement based on student performance and AP exams.
Five students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Addison Baker, Isaac Campuzano, Catherine Hughes, Drew Luginbuhl, and Matthew Spence.
Three students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Yadira De Leon-Matute, Kayla Silvers, and Austin Tims.
Five students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Aranxa Campos, Nathan Clance, Breanna Manning, Priya Patel, and Ava Perez.
Not Pictured, 2022 Graduates: Addison Baker, Aranxa Campos, Isaac Campuzano, Yadira De Leon-Matute, Drew Luginbuhl, Breanna Manning, Priya Patel, Matthew Spence, and Austin Tims.
Learn more by visiting www.gcbe.org/news.
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
Our theme for the 2022-2023 school year is #OneBIGFamily.
We asked Christina Cote, third grade teacher at W.L. Swain Elementary and the 2022-2023 Swain Teacher of the Year, what it means to be part of our One BIG Family:
“I am thankful that I am a part of Gordon County One Big Family because we are very supportive of one another. We encourage and support one another as teachers and in our classrooms. When there are needs in our classroom, whether it be curriculum or students, we can count on our coworkers and administrators to help. We want the best for each and every student and teacher. That is something that is very valuable in this field.
As an example, one year I had larger class sizes and needed to complete an assessment for every student. I asked for help in assisting in getting the assessments completed and administration asked other teachers to come help. The specials teachers and ELL teacher gave up time from their planning to come help me so I could the assessments. They had a great attitude too as I was very appreciative of their time and help. It was so great knowing that others would help when we needed it.”
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS
September is Attendance Awareness Month!
To celebrate school attendance, we will have a friendly competition among our schools. The school with the highest attendance percentage during the month of September will win an ice cream party. The school with highest attendance percentage on September 30th will receive an attendance trophy!
Help your child by ensuring he/she is at school every day and on time, sending notes when they must be absent due to illness, and supporting your child to develop good attendance habits!
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK: Family Engagement plays an important role in helping kids to feel connected to their families, caregivers and the community.
Try these tips to help both you and your child connect with your school:
-Get to know your child’s teacher at the beginning of the year;
-Attend school events and teacher conferences;
-Volunteer;
-Encourage reading at home;
-Ask your child about their day.
Visit www.gcbe.org/pfe to learn more about GCS Parent & Family Engagement today.
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
GORDON COUNTY GROWN: Did you know we have a 3-year-old preschool program in Gordon County Schools? Check out some of the activities happening in our Preschool Play and Learn (PALs) classroom at Belwood Elementary!
Learn more about the PALs program by visiting www.gcbe.org/palsprogram
#GoCoSchools #OneBIGFamily #GETGCS
✨WORK-BASED LEARNING SPOTLIGHT✨
Ryder Smith is a Senior Work-Based Learning student from Sonoraville High School, working at the Tom B. David airport. After graduation, Ryder plans to attend a technical college and study construction management. He aspires to own his own business and focus on general contracting.
Interested in learning more about the Gordon County Schools work-based learning program? Visit www.gcbe.org/workbasedlearning
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #WorkBasedLearning #CTAE #OneBIGFamily
WELCOME ANONYMOUS ALERTS: Students, parents, staff and community members are now able to download and utilize the new GCS Anonymous Alerts app!
The Anonymous Alerts safety system empowers students, parents, and community members to anonymously report issues related to bullying, threats, harassment, drugs, and mental health concerns using the safety system. Use of this system allows for 1-way or 2-way anonymous encrypted communications between those who submit a report and district administration and/or school administration.
Download the Anonymous Alerts app today and use activation code: gocoschools
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
CYBERSECURITY TRAINING: Gordon County Schools recently hosted Cybersecurity Training in collaboration with Northwest Ga RESA and Georgia Department of Education Technology Services at the Gordon County College and Career Academy of Design and Advanced Manufacturing.
#OneBIGFamily #GETGCS #GoCoSchools
Our theme for the 2022-2023 school year is #OneBIGFamily.
We asked Mari Casole, School Social Worker & Homeless Liaison, what it means to be part of our One BIG Family:
“As one of the school social workers, I work with families and students with a wide range of needs. I'm very grateful to our faculty, staff, and community partners who are always willing to help meet our students' needs. They go above and beyond, and without a doubt, are making a positive difference in the students' lives. I feel very blessed to be part of a community that cares about one another as if we all were one big family! ”
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TOTY CELEBRATION: We have some amazing teachers at Gordon County Schools. Please help us to celebrate the 2022 Belwood Elementary Teacher of the Year, Meghan Vess!
Vess has been at Belwood Elementary as an educator for the last nine years and has served the BES community in multiple grades including pre-k and first grade in addition to her current role.
As long ago as she can remember, Meghan wanted to chase her passion and become an educator. “Becoming a teacher is all that I have ever wanted to do. When I was younger, you could always count on me to be playing school. I would always come home and repeat everything I saw or heard my teachers say during the day,” said Meghan. “I knew I wanted to make a positive impact on those around me. I absolutely loved school myself and knew I wanted to pass my passion for learning on to others.”
Vess hopes to instill a love of learning for each student she has the opportunity to teach. “ I was fortunate enough to have had many amazing educators growing up who inspired me to become a teacher. The ones who made the biggest impact on my life are Ms. Dawn Pruett and Ms. Jenny Chadwick. These two ladies invested in me both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. They pushed me to become the best version of myself. To this day, they still reach out to me and support me. I am not sure how I would have made it through high school without these two ladies. I am forever thankful for their continued love and support.”
“I am so honored to represent Belwood Elementary School as the Teacher of the Year. Belwood holds a special place in my heart, and I am so thankful to work alongside some of the most amazing students, staff, and administration,” said Ms. Vess.
Colleagues describe Vess as being poised, articulate, and loving her students. She is known to always go above and beyond to build relationships and ensure her students are successful while learning in a fun environment.
Congratulations Ms. Vess!
#GoCoSchools #OneBIGFamily #GETGCS
Our September menus are full of tasty, healthy meals and some special food celebration days: National Pancake Day on Sept 26, World School Milk Day on Sept 28, and Georgia Crunch 4 Lunch Day on Sept 30. View and print all the menus from our webpage: https://thrillshare.com/s/documents-gcs-gordoncountyschoolsga/browse/260285
PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK: Try these conversation starters that can help you and your child have meaningful conversations. These are great to use during dinner, short rides in the car, or even while you are waiting for an appointment.
-Tell me about the best part of your day.
-What was the hardest thing you had to do today? And why was it hard?
-Tell me about what you are reading in class.
Visit www.gcbe.org/pfe to learn more about GCS Parent & Family Engagement today.
#GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily
