Gordon County Schools -

NATIONAL CHAMPION: Sonoraville High School student and FFA Vice President Makena Blalock is representing us proudly at this year's National FFA Convention in Indiana as a National Delegate - AND she's bringing home a NATIONAL WIN! Makena earned a national championship title today for her outstanding agriscience project in Division 3 of the Social Systems category of the National Agriscience Fair! Way to go, Makena! #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

We recently had a blast with our Partner in Education, Shaw Industries Group, Inc., as they teamed up with the Pre-K and Kindergarten students at Belwood Elementary School! Together, they delved into the magical world of books and carved pumpkins, creating unforgettable memories and spreading the joy of learning! #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Yesterday was an inspiring day at Gordon County Schools as peer leaders from across the school system came together for Sources of Strength training. They're ready to empower their peers with strength, hope, and support, making our school community even stronger! 💪 #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Exciting news! Gordon County Schools is thrilled to announce our participation in a friendly Parent and Family Engagement Month competition this November. Families are in for a chance to win incredible prize packs by participating in weekly activities together. Each week, we've handpicked 5 engaging activities from the Family Dinner Project for families to complete. Submit each completed activity via social media or email to earn one entry, with the opportunity to accumulate up to 15 entries throughout November. The anticipation will build as we gear up to announce the lucky winners during the week of December 4th. Get ready to kick off the competition starting November 6th! We hope you will join us in strengthening family connections and creating lasting memories!

November is here, and so are some truly delicious meals in your Gordon County Schools!

Happy Halloween from Gordon County Schools! 👻🎃 Wishing all our students, families, and staff a spooktacular and safe Halloween filled with laughter, treats, and unforgettable memories. #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

REMINDER: Next Monday, November 6, is an At-Home Learning Day. This day allows our teachers to prepare for great classroom lessons and gives students a chance to catch up on assignments if they've fallen behind. Thanksgiving break is also approaching and schools will be closed November 20-24! Be sure to mark your calendars and check out the full academic schedule here: www.gcbe.org/academiccalendar #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Get ready to make a difference in our community as Gordon County Schools proudly announces the launch of the Fired Up Food Drive in collaboration with the VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER - Hand Up, Inc.! Starting today, from October 30th to November 3rd, join us in collecting canned goods and unopened non-perishable items to support our community partner, the VAC. Let's come together and ignite change through the Fired Up Food Drive! #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Lolli, the beloved K9 ambassador of the Gordon County Sheriff's Office, has been a cherished presence in our elementary schools, thanks to the dedication of her handler, Sergeant Jarod Powell. As she embarks on her well-deserved retirement, we celebrate Lolli for her years of service and the countless smiles she's brought to our Gordon County Schools community while she takes her final walks through each of our elementary schools. 📷Lolli's walk at Red Bud Elementary School, escorted by Sergeant Powell, Corporal Massingill and Detective Fox

Congratulations to our winners of the 2023 Red Ribbon Week 'Drugs Don't Work' poster contest: -Belwood Elementary: Caroline Nasco -Fairmount Elementary: McKinzie Patterson -Red Bud Elementary: Easton Selvy -Sonoraville Elementary: Raelyn Stickler -Tolbert Elementary: Ashley Avila Diaz (not pictured) -W.L. Swain Elementary: Kinsley Stone -Ashworth Middle: Karla Vincente -Red Bud Middle: Ryleigh Blalock -Gordon Central High: Lilly Moore -Sonoraville High: Becca Tippett We are grateful to the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce for their support in hosting the Red Ribbon Week contest, providing a valuable platform for our K-12th grade students to creatively express the 'Be Kind to your Mind. Live Drug Free.' message, promoting a healthier and drug-free community." #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Gordon County Agriculture Literacy Day - An Unforgettable Experience for GCS Future Farmers! We're thrilled to share the amazing success of the Gordon County Young Farmers Agriculture Literacy Day, held at the Northwest Georgia Agricultural Pavilion! This special event brought together FFA students and educators from Sonoraville High, Gordon Central High, Ashworth Middle, and Red Bud Middle to host an enriching experience for third-grade students from every GCS elementary school. Our young learners delved into the vital world of farming, discovering the incredible responsibilities of farmers who work tirelessly to provide us and the world with the safest, highest quality, diverse, and affordable supply of food, fiber, and shelter. Students had a blast interacting with farm animals, learning the art of butter-making, exploring the origins of their food, and gaining insights into different plant parts. A heartfelt 'Thank You' to the generous partners in education who made this day possible: - Calhoun Farm Supply - Gordon County, Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance - Mauldin Trash Service - Fairmount Poultry - AgGeorgia Farm Credit - Little Red Barn Mobile Petting Farm - Gordon County Extension/4-H - Wildlife Resources Division - Georgia DNR - AdventHealth Gordon - Red Carpet Cattlemen's Association - North Georgia EMC And a special shoutout to the Red Carpet Cattlemen Association for providing a delicious lunch for all our dedicated volunteers! #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

ELITE 8: The Sonoraville High School Phoenix Softball take the field tomorrow to play the Whitewater Wildcats in the Elite 8 round of the GHSA playoffs at 1:00 PM. We wish the players and the coaches the best of luck!! #GCSTogetherWeThrive #GoCoSchools

In honor of School Bus Safety Week, GCS students are actively engaging in lessons about the importance of school bus safety. Tim Watkins, Director of Transportation, and Jo Ann Akins, Safety Coordinator, have been making special visits to our schools. They are sharing information on being responsible bus riders, emphasizing safe procedures for boarding and exiting the bus, and reviewing how to respond in case of a bus-related emergency. We appreciate all of our bus drivers and what they do for us each and every day! #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Gordon County Schools would like to express our heartfelt thanks to AdventHealth Gordon, our valued Partner in Education, for the wonderful luncheon and the informative conversation about mammograms. We would like to extend our gratitude to Wendy Taylor and Emily Tarpley for joining us today to share in their mission of promoting preventative health education and awareness. Through this meaningful partnership, Gordon County Schools' staff has been provided with pink light bulbs to actively participate in community awareness initiatives during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Together, we can shine a pink light on Breast Cancer Awareness. #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Fairmount Elementary School has been actively engaging with its families and the community through a series of exciting events in October. Recently, they hosted "A Taste of Ag Literacy Night" where students and their families got to savor delicious samples of strawberries, dairy treats, apples, and corn while enjoying stories related to each food. Alongside this, students had hands-on experiences, learning about planting seeds and the growth process. Additionally, their annual Fall Festival brought the community together for a day of fun and festivities, featuring games, trunk or treat, a cake walk, inflatables, a photo booth, and the chance to earn a free Halloween costume in exchange for canned goods. #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Earlier today, Ish Lewis, a software engineering team leader at Shaw Industries Group, Inc., shared his journey of personal and professional growth in public speaking with the Belwood Elementary School student leadership team. He emphasized the importance of effective public speaking and encouraged students to develop their communication skills. The event saw students gaining confidence as they practiced introducing themselves and speaking in progressively larger groups, with one particularly courageous student, Kinsley Gal, even receiving a well-deserved public speaking certificate after being given a random topic and speaking publicly in front of the group. #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

Students from Tolbert Elementary School had an exciting and educational day at Gordon Central High School, participating in a range of engaging activities with their peers from the GCHS Teaching as a Profession classes and various teachers. The kindergartners had a blast exploring various areas of the high school, visiting the ROTC to witness military exercises, reading books to enhance their literacy skills, and even playing with a skeleton to learn about the human body. In the photography class, they discovered the art of capturing moments, using iPads and a green screen to take flight into their imaginative worlds. The day was topped off with a memorable visit to the agriculture room, where they met Olive, a 300-pound pig, creating lasting memories and fostering a love for hands-on learning. #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive

We are excited to announce that Gordon County Schools is currently accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) for students in grades 8-12. The primary objective of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council is to empower students to be representatives and advocates for their schools and the broader Gordon County student community. Students involved in the SSAC will have the unique opportunity to: -Share their innovative ideas -Provide valuable input on various aspects of the student academic experience -Gain insights into the workings of our school system Students who have served no more than one year may also apply to serve a second term. For more details about the SSAC and to submit your application, please visit our dedicated page at www.gcbe.org/ssac. Please take note of the application deadline: All applications and the accompanying recommendations must be submitted no later than October 31st. We look forward to the opportunity to work together with our enthusiastic students in the SSAC and appreciate your interest in being part of this meaningful initiative.

Gordon Central High School students are making their mark in vocational excellence, attending the SkillsUSA Champions Rally on October 6th, gaining inspiration, and exploring various career pathways. Additionally, Abigail Guardado, Melanie Chiapas, and Aileen Reyes furthered their leadership skills at the SkillsUSA Elevate Chapter Leadership Conference on October 11th, contributing to the ongoing success of the GCHS SkillsUSA chapter. READ MORE at www.gcbe.org/news

Today at Gordon Central High School's Ratner Stadium, we had the privilege of coming together to celebrate the 2023 Calhoun Gordon County Track & Field Special Olympics. We're incredibly fortunate to have some of the most remarkable students from both Calhoun Schools and Gordon County Schools participating. The day commenced with the Parade of Athletes, followed by the Torch Relay and the recitation of the Olympic Oath. Then, the competitors took off to compete in their events! As we reflect on their morning performances, we are beaming with pride. A heartfelt congratulations to all these incredible athletes. Your hard work and dedication are a true inspiration to everyone. Keep up the fantastic work, and may your future be filled with even more success and determination! #GoCoSchools #GCSTogetherWeThrive