Tiger Bytes
News & Notes for Parents in the Greene County School System
From the Superintendent: Thank you, Parents!
Every November, we celebrate Family Engagement Month. It is a time to recognize and celebrate the essential role of families in the educational success and wellbeing of their children. In addition, it is an opportunity for families, schools, and the community to reflect on how to promote and strengthen family engagement.
We do this because the children of Greene County are best served when schools and families work together in true partnership – as one team, with one purpose of elevating our children to new heights. Parents and families are always a child’s first teachers – yet your vital work to keep your children learning sometimes goes unacknowledged. Every time you read to your child, every volunteer shift at school, every time you sit in the stands at a game or put together a costume for the school play, every minute of homework help and every single conversation – that’s all a crucial part of your child’s education.
For all of it, please know that our education family sees and appreciates you. Thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us – we do not take it lightly. Thank you for partnering right alongside us as we seek a bright future for the children of Greene County, together.
Thank you, parents and families, for all you've done to support your children's learning and their schools this year. Your role is more critical than ever, and as educators, we can accomplish nothing without you.
With gratitude,
Dr. Chris Houston
Superintendent
Parent University: Middle/High Edition!
Thank you to all the parents who came out to Parent University earlier this month! This successful event attended by more than 50 middle and high school parents featured presentations from GCSS staff such as “Parenting Tips & Growth Mindsets,” “Keeping Parents in the Know,” “Social Media Savvy for Parents,” and keynote presentation “Hands-on Street Drug Identification for Parents” by School Resource Officer Sgt. Don Gause, CMS D.A.R.E. instructor.
Thank you also to Jeremy’s Wing Shack for serving dinner on-site and donating a portion of the proceeds to the 2024 CMS Orlando field trip. Congratulations to the evening’s door prize winners who took home a variety of Tiger Football t-shirts, gift cards, and other door prizes.
The next Parent University session will be on Thursday, Feb. 8th at CMS for elementary and middle school parents (K-8). The evening will feature more great informational sessions designed to equip parents with tools and knowledge to help their children succeed in school, along with a presentation from the Magical Storyteller's Dino-Squad with a scavenger hunt for students and their families to participate in together.
GCPS named a Title I Reward School by the Georgia Department of Education
Greene County Primary School has been recognized by the Georgia Department of Education as one of the top performing Title I schools in the state. GCPS has received the GADOE Reward School designation, recognizing it as among the greatest-improving top 5% of schools when comparing the content mastery scores from the most recent two years of statewide assessments.
For example, GCPS’s 2023 Georgia Milestones results showed that 64% of 3rd graders were proficient and distinguished in Math, exceeding the state average by 18 percentage points. The state of Georgia as a whole was 46% at proficient and distinguished.
“This is a great honor and achievement for Greene County Primary and the Greene County School System,” said Superintendent Chris Houston. “We have seen GCPS achieve better and better results each year since the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is a great validation of the hard work that the staff, students, and parents have done to make the school such a success.”
GCSS names six students to 2024 REACH Georgia Scholarship cohort
The Greene County School System has named six 8th grade students to this year’s class of REACH Georgia Scholarship recipients. India Armstrong, Kaden Ferrell, Sydney Ford, Carmen Freeman, and Ja’Mia Gresham from Anita White Carson Middle School and Marcus Rhodes from Lake Oconee Academy make up the Greene County School System's seventh class of REACH scholars since the school system joined the program in 2017.
REACH scholars are selected in 8th grade via a rigorous application and interview process and must demonstrate an interest in higher education and a verified financial need. By signing their REACH scholarship commitment papers, the scholars agree to maintain good grades, attendance, and behavior, as well as meet with their academic coaches and mentors regularly throughout high school. Once enrolled in one of the 29 public four-year colleges, 22 technical colleges, or 35 private four-year colleges that participate in Georgia’s REACH program, REACH students must continue to meet attendance and GPA requirements to maintain their scholarships.
The funding for each GCSS REACH scholarship stems from private donations by Greene County individuals, companies, and organizations. Each REACH scholarship is sponsored with an initial contribution of $1,000 from the community donations, which the state matches with $9,000. Some colleges provide additional financial support to REACH Scholars. When this funding is combined with Georgia’s HOPE scholarship and Federal Pell grants, each REACH scholar could be eligible to receive more than $60,000 to finance a four-year degree at a Georgia college.
World-famous trumpeter Jumaane Smith holds OPAS Masterclass at GCHS
Jumaane Smith, a renowned trumpeter and world-famous musical artist, recently hosted a band Masterclass at GCHS. Presented by the Oconee Performing Arts Society, the Masterclass was also attended by students from Lake Oconee Academy and Putnam County High School. Students had the opportunity to work one-on-one with Smith and receive tips and pointers on their technique. Smith also answered questions from the group about how he built his career, his experiences touring worldwide, and his vocal and musical talents on a variety of instruments. Smith said he found the students to be talented and well-prepared.
With a mastery of jazz, pop, and classical genres, five-time Grammy award-winner Jumaane Smith has collaborated with music legends like Michael Bublé, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Wonder. His expertise extends beyond performing, delving into producing and arranging, contributing to albums and Hollywood soundtracks. Smith has spent the last 15 years touring extensively and recording with Michael Bublé as lead trumpeter and vocalist. A sought-after musician, Smith's vibrant performances on global stages, including renowned venues and television appearances, showcase his remarkable skill and passion for music.
BOE Approves 2024-2025 Academic Calendar
The Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar at its regular meeting on November 16th. Next year's calendar includes Day One on August 1st, a weeklong Fall Break in October, a weeklong Thanksgiving Break, a two-and-a-half week Holiday Break, a three-day Winter Break for students in February, a weeklong Spring Break in April, and the last day of school on May 23rd. Thank you to the teacher representatives and school and district admin who served on this year's Calendar Committee.
CMS inducts 13 students into National Jr. Beta Club
Congratulations to the newest inductees of the Anita White Carson Middle School National Junior Beta Club! The National Beta Club is the largest independent, nonprofit, educational youth organization in America and its mission is to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership among elementary and secondary school students. National Beta Club prepares today's students to be tomorrow's leaders and requires high academic achievement and community service as students exemplify the organization's ideals of service and leadership.
- ACHIEVEMENT - Recognizing and honoring high academic achievement
- CHARACTER - Preparing young people for life and empowering them to be successful
- LEADERSHIP - Developing the leaders of tomorrow
- SERVICE - Demonstrating our motto: Let Us Lead by Serving Others
GCHS and LOA partner on college tours of UGA, Mercer University, and GA Tech
Juniors and seniors from GCHS and LOA had the opportunity to collaborate on several college visits around the state this fall. Looking for opportunities to build bridges and for opportunities for the two schools to work together, Coach Greg Simmons from GCHS and Mr. John Noto from LOA teamed up for a small tour of colleges that allowed the students from both schools to visit the University of Georgia in October and Mercer University and Georgia Tech in November. Thank you to the administration of both schools for supporting this opportunity for the students.
Students pose with the "Ramblin Wreck" at the heart of the GA Tech campus.
Students listen to a guide while on a campus tour.
Students attend a presentation about the admissions process and major offerings at UGA.
CMS and GCPS students wowed by STEM presentations from The Science Machine
Michael Green is the founder of Science for Everyone, a 20-year-old, Atlanta-based science and technology company committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of leaders, scientists, mathematicians, innovators and engineers. In addition to traveling the United States and abroad to present incredible science shows, he has been featured on the ABC, CBS and NBC television networks and served as a featured education presenter for the Atlanta Braves, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, The Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Six Flags Over Georgia, and many more.
GCCA students tour in-progress homes with Lake Oconee Area Builders Association
Thank you to Stephanie of Metro Water Filter of the South for taking our GCCA students on an amazing tour of a couple of Lake Oconee Area Builders Association businesses. Students were able to walk through a home that is about 30% complete and then another that is about 85% complete so they could see the home building process. Students also toured Stair South where they saw woodworking, welding, and powder coating. They then toured Gutter Solutions and watched gutters being molded right in front of them! LOABA provided lunch and had three former students tell their stories. There are so many trade jobs available in Greene County and GCCA helps train students for those jobs. It was a great day of learning and growing!
Congratulations to Cameron Shuler, GCSS District Teacher of the Year!
First grade teacher Cameron Shuler received the prestigious title of District Teacher of the Year for the Greene County School System during a reception in October.
Ms. Shuler was named Greene County Primary School's Teacher of the Year in September. Ashlie Miller, GCPS Principal, introduced her at the reception and said, "She has been a breath of fresh air since we got her right out of Georgia College and State University. She came to us from Wilmington Island where she sold ice cream on Tybee Island during the summer. I was intrigued with her from the very beginning."
Ms. Shuler stated, "As long as I can remember, teaching has always been my "thing." From teaching my brother to read at the age of three to donating my own Happy Meal toys for a little box labeled "Treasure Box," school was not just a fun game to me, it was serious!"
Her philosophy about teaching goes beyond what we envision as "just teaching." She states, "It is often said that we have no idea what our students go home to, what they may or may not be exposed to outside of the classroom, and what the relationship of the adult and child looks like. With that being said, we can only control what happens in the four walls of our school. However, these four walls can hold so much potential for our students. We can assist in the dreams envisioned of future careers, we can serve as role models for positive self-talk; we can be the smile that changes the trajectory of their entire day. Teaching is so much more than the curriculum we use, the pacing guides we plan, or even the test scores that we receive. It's about the relationships we form, the differences we can make, and the lives we change day to day." Click here to read more on our website.
FCC Affordable Connectivity Program for discounted internet service
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
(Please check your child's school calendar for more school-specific events and important dates. Click here for the GCPS calendar, here for the CMS calendar, and here for the GCHS calendar.)
December 14, 2023
Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting
The Greene County Board of Education will hold its December Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room located at 101 E. Third St. in Greensboro. To view Board of Education agendas and minutes, please click here.
December 18-20, 2023
Distance Learning Days
Students will learn remotely during designated Distance Learning Days.
December 21, 2023-January 2, 2024
Holiday Break
All schools and the district office will be closed for Holiday Break.
January 3-4, 2024
Staff Planning/Student Holidays
January 3rd & 4th will be planning days for teachers and staff and holidays for students.
January 5, 2024
First Day of Second Semester
All students return from Holiday Break.
Stay connected with us!
Email: gcsscommunications@greene.k12.ga.us
Website: www.greene.k12.ga.us
Location: Greene County Board Education, 101 E 3rd Street, Greensboro, GA, USA
Phone: 706-453-7688
Facebook: facebook.com/greenecountyschools
Twitter: @gcsstigers