Tiger Bytes
News & Notes for GCSS Parents - August 2024
We have had a great start to the school year! Our students have returned with enthusiasm, and it’s been heartwarming to see them engage in their classes, reconnect with friends, and embrace the opportunities for growth and learning that lie ahead.
This positive beginning would not have been possible without your ongoing support and involvement. Thank you for preparing your children for school each day and for the encouragement you provide at home. Your partnership is invaluable to us as we strive to ensure that every student achieves their full potential.
While school may be filled with textbooks, curriculum and a whole lot of academic learning, GCSS is just as focused on the day-to-day growth of your child – the kind of growth that helps them develop into confident, independent and kind learners. This is why we say Every Day Counts. Did you know that absenteeism in the first thirty days of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year? Students who miss 2-4 days in the first or second months of school go on to miss nearly a month over the course of the school year. Check out the flyer below for tips on actions you can take every day at home to help your child be present and on time to school every day. If your child has to miss school due to illness, we encourage you to contact their teacher(s) to help them make up missed work.
Together, let’s keep up the momentum of this great start by ensuring that our students are present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s school or to my office. Thank you for your continued support and for being such an integral part of our school community. I look forward to witnessing all the accomplishments our students will achieve this year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chris Houston
Superintendent
Tiger Stadium will see several upgrades over the course of this summer and early fall, including brand-new turf which has already been installed, and a resurfaced track and new video scoreboard coming later this month! At the June Board of Education meeting, the BOE approved the purchase of a new, state-of-the-art video scoreboard and advertising marquee at Tiger Stadium. The new scoreboard and marquee will be a hands-on learning opportunity for the audio-visual, marketing, and business pathways at the high school, as students work with local businesses to sell, design, and display ads for the marquee, which is the only billboard-style advertisement venue on Highway 44 within the city of Greensboro, and produce video highlights to show during gametime.
At GCPS, Ms. Hearn’s art students have been busy during the first week of school! They have learned about famous artists like Henri Rousseau and Leonardo Da Vinci, and even tried their hands at re-creating the Mona Lisa! They drew and decorated clowns as they studied portraiture, shape, and color, and designed rockets while learning about line types. Each lesson this week has been tied to a book or a famous artist, or both, like when the students drew tigers and giraffes while reading “The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau.”
Ms. Hearn said her goal during the first week of school is always to get the students creating and allow them to display their work to build confidence. “They love to have their work displayed, and they take so much pride when we hang it in the hallways,” she says.
This summer, Greene County High School's own Tavaris (TJ) Turner was named State President for Georgia CTI! TJ's goal for the 2024-2025 school year is to support disabled students and excel in his role as President. His favorite quote is, "Be careful who you call a role model because a lot of these models out here playing roles." TJ dreams of becoming a real estate agent or a chef. He is a dedicated football player, enjoys playing Xbox, and loves meeting new people. TJ says he is deeply inspired by his mom and GCHS CTI Coordinator Ms. Didi Davis, who have both taught him a lot and never give up on him. Congratulations, TJ!
Georgia CTI's mission is to provide meaningful transition activities through leadership and employability experiences for students with disabilities in grades 9-12 identified through career, technical, and agricultural education courses in order to increase postsecondary outcomes. Georgia CTI works with students with disabilities seeking to explore multiple career interests by offering leadership and work readiness conferences in various settings through groups and/or individually.
The Greene County School System is pleased to welcome Dr. Kimberley Simmons to the district leadership team as the Director of Special Education. In this role, Dr. Simmons is primarily responsible for overseeing the district’s Special Education program and collaborating with teachers, support staff, and administrators to foster a supportive and engaging learning environment for students with disabilities. Dr. Simmons said she is looking forward to her new role, especially the opportunity to lead initiatives that promote educational excellence for all students: “I look forward to collaborating with stakeholders to create inclusive environments where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally,” she said.
Dr. Simmons comes to Greene County from the Dekalb County School District, where she served as Special Education Coordinator. She also previously served as the Mental Health and Wellness Facilitator in Henry County Schools and has served as a school counselor, curriculum consultant, and special education teacher in several school districts across the state of Georgia, including with the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice.
Dr. Simmons says that her approach to education is driven by an unwavering commitment to student success and belief in the power of inclusive education. She strives to create a nurturing and supportive environment where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential: “I chose a career in special education because I am passionate about advocating for students with diverse needs and ensuring they have access to a quality education that prepares them for future success,” Dr. Simmons said. “Every student deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment that recognizes their unique strengths and challenges.”
To learn more about Dr. Simmons's vision for her new role and career so far, please click here to continue reading on our website.
The Greene County School System is proud to announce that Dr. Chris Houston, Superintendent of Schools, attended his first meeting as a member of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s Superintendent Roundtable. The group met in Atlanta at the Governor’s Mansion in July. Dr. Houston is one of only 10 superintendents statewide selected for this panel.
“I am honored to be a part of this amazing group of educational leaders from across Georgia,” said Dr. Houston. “The topics on the meeting’s agenda focused on building a stronger, more vibrant public education system for all of Georgia. The conversations were meaningful and very worthwhile. I applaud the Governor for prioritizing the voices of his school system leaders as he makes decisions regarding public education.”
Dr. Houston was actively engaged in discussions that included matters related to the use of social media and cell phones during the school day, improving student attendance, enhancing conditions for learning through effective disciplinary measures, bolstering enrollment efforts across the state, recruiting and retaining educators, and promoting the Georgia Match initiative for high school graduates.
This survey linked below is being conducted by the Greene County Family Connection in order to better understand our community's issues and the resources needed to address those issues, such as affordable housing, food insecurity, and employment resources, among others. Your answers to this anonymous survey will be combined with others from the community and the information you share will be used to help the collaborative develop strategies to address the most pressing community issues. You may access the survey using the link below or by scanning the QR code. Thank you in advance for your participation!
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: 706-454-1109
Facebook: facebook.com/gcsstigers
Instagram: @gcss_tigers
YouTube: Greene County School System GCSS