This week is National School Counseling Week! This year’s theme is “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive.” Thank you GSCS School Counselors for truly helping our students thrive academically, socially and emotionally. School counselors have a tremendous impact on helping our students achieve school success and plan for success in their future. Thank you for being a valuable resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators!
On January 16, GSCS hosted its 2nd Annual District Social Studies Fair. Students from across the district demonstrated their research and interview skills through the lens of social studies inquiry. There was a high level of participation from students in grades 3-10, with 46 projects representing 13 schools.
According to the Georgia Council for the Social Studies rules, only grades 5-12 are eligible to advance to the Regional Social Studies Fair. Sixteen projects were selected to advance to the West Regional Social Studies Fair which will take place on March 15, 2025, at Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn. Congratulations to these students who will represent GSCS at the regional competition:
• Alayna Wilson, Propaganda Art throughout WWII, Futral Road Elementary
• Judah Huckaby, What Happens When the Gas Runs Out?, Crescent Elementary
• Ma'Kenzie Justice, Harriett Tubman, Beaverbrook Elementary
• Eli Pack, Battle of Waterloo: How Napoleon Lost, Futral Road Elementary
• Lizzie Shepherd, Are the Great Barrier Reefs in Danger?, Futral Road Elementary
• Amir Ali, Zion Byrd-Dixon & Jalen Pye, WWI, Moreland Road Elementary
• Marley Olvera, How the Wright Brothers' Invention Impacted Society, Moreland Road Elementary
• Alani Lewis & Isabella Thompson, The Great Depression, Orrs Elementary
• David Schiflett, Social Media and Political Violence, Carver Middle School
• Jesse Davis & Timothy Phinazee, Jesse Owens, Carver Middle School
• Cyron Anthony, The origins of a struggle: The Wounded Knee Massacre, Carver Middle School
• Shariah Fulton, Rising Grocery Prices, Rehoboth Road Middle School
• Skye Oduaran, Representation Matters: The Role of Representation in American, Politics and its Impact on Future Generations, Spalding High School
• Siri Oduaran, The Impact of Major Natural Disasters on Weather Preparedness and Response, Spalding High School
• Jaiya Taylor, Through Biases Eyes: AI’s Distorted Perception, Spalding High School
• Rondell White, Fast Fashion and its Effect on the Environment and A Global Society, Spalding High School
Read more at https://5il.co/368xm.
In the interest of safety, all Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) schools and offices will have a one-hour delay start time for students and staff on Friday, January 24. Elementary start time will be 8:45 a.m.; middle school start time will be 10 a.m. and high school start time will be 9:45 a.m. All after-school events and activities will proceed as scheduled.
Shoutout to our GSCS December Top Readers who crushed it by taking AR quizzes or logging books on Beanstack! Your hard work and love for reading are amazing! Keep reading for your chance to be the next district Top Reader and win your very own tablet!
Join us in the GSCS 100,000 Book Challenge and help us reach our goal! Every book counts—let’s do this together! 💪📖 #GSCSReads #TopReaders #100KBookChallenge
Elementary Top Readers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ycy2mDXUlg
Secondary Top Readers: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LbHdFGCGNg8
In the interest of safety, GSCS will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 23, 2025. All students and staff should remain at home as icy road conditions will disrupt normal school operations. 12-month employees should report to work at noon if conditions are safe to do so.
In the interest of safety, Griffin-Spalding County Schools (GSCS) will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. All students and staff should remain at home as the current weather situation will disrupt normal school operations. Stay safe and warm.
After careful consideration and monitoring of the current weather situation, we have made the decision to close GSCS schools tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21, 2025. This decision was not made lightly, but the safety of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority.
All schools and offices will be closed. All school-related activities are canceled. All students and employee groups should remain home tomorrow.
An announcement will be made tomorrow regarding the status of school for Wednesday, given that freezing temperatures and possible winter weather are expected to remain a factor Tuesday evening.
Stay safe and stay warm. Thank you.
GSCS held its annual spelling bee today. After multiple spelling and vocabulary rounds, Orrs Elementary Student Charlie Hollums won with the word “monopolize.” The district runner-up is Carver Road Middle School Student Carter Dupree.
Read more at: https://5il.co/35fv2
All GSCS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
GSCS will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
Tomorrow, Friday, January 10, 2025, will be a virtual at-home learning day for all GSCS students. No students or staff will report to school due to the threat of winter weather which could create delays that would disrupt normal school operations. Students will have their Chromebooks at home to complete assignments in Canvas.
Due to the current winter storm watch and the forecast of potential snow and ice, all GSCS schools and offices will be closed on Friday, January 10, to prioritize the safety of our students, staff and community. All after-school events and activities are also canceled.
Read a letter from GSCS Superintendent Dr. Keith L. Simmons at https://5il.co/34jyf.
Are you interested in becoming a teacher? Earn your professional teaching certification in as little as nine months with Moreland University TEACH-NOW.
All GSCS schools & offices will be closed Dec. 23, 2024 - Jan. 3, 2025, for the holiday break. GSCS staff return on Jan. 6, 2025, for professional learning & planning. Students return on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Check out the November Edition of the GSCS Community Communicator E-Newsletter: https://conta.cc/3ZiZimt
Today, we want to express our gratitude to all of our substitute teachers for their important role in education. Thank you for being there when we need you!
FINAL Immunization Deadline is Tomorrow, November 22! All Pre-K, Kindergarten, 7th or 11th grade students without updated immunization records will be sent home tomorrow, November 22, until updated records are received. Acceptable records include an updated Form 3231, a Medical Waiver (good for one year), a notarized Religious Waiver, or an appointment card. Please contact your school nurse with any questions or concerns.
Thank you to the people who drive the buses, clean the buildings, prepare the meals and many, many more. We appreciate the important work you do for our students every day! #EducationSupportProfessionalsDay
Yesterday, GSCS Superintendent Dr. Simmons had his first Teacher Advisory Council meeting of this school year with all of the 2024-25 School-Level Teachers of the Year. They had great food and conversations about this year's successes so far and the desired successes for the remainder of the year. Wings & Wisdom!
All GSCS schools and offices will be closed from November 25-29. Happy Thanksgiving!
Today GSCS middle and high school winter athletes participated in the Beyond Self Athlete's Assembly, led by Community Partner and Mentor David Johnson. The Beyond Self Athlete Program is meant to grow student leadership skills, build character and improve school culture. Athletes were told they are all Persons Of Influence (POI) and the importance of the 3 R's: Respect Yourself, Respect Others and Take Responsibility. Key Note Speaker Marlin Lynch III (Pastor Mo) shared the importance of discovering their purpose and making positive life choices. Words of wisdom from Pastor Mo included:
"Know your self-worth and add taxes"
"Stay focused"
"Stop asking people for directions who haven't been where you are going"