Gordon County Schools -

Good Evening,  In the interest of safety for our students, staff and community during the impending inclement weather, Gordon County Schools will be cancelling all home games, practices, and extracurricular activities. For additional updates, follow Gordon County Schools social media pages and website. #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

TOMORROW: Gordon County Schools teachers and staff are excited to welcome our students back tomorrow, Wednesday, January 4th! View the academic calendar for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year at https://www.gcbe.org/22-23academiccalendar #OneBIGFamily #GoCoSchools #GETGCS

SSAC: Friday, December 9th, was the second meeting of the 2022-2023 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Mendy Goble, Executive Director of Finance with Gordon County Schools, met with the students to discuss how public schools, programs, and events are funded. Students also met with GCS Communications Coordinator, Kendra Pannell, to explore communication methods and strategies used in Gordon County Schools. SSAC members then traveled to the Voluntary Action Center (VAC). Stacy Long, Executive Director of the VAC, shared the mission of the VAC with students and discussed the different services and programs they offer to members of the Gordon County community. SSAC students then spent the afternoon volunteering at the VAC by helping in the community kitchen and organizing food and clothing donations! Thank you to our program sponsor North Georgia National Bank for supporting our programs and for providing a Chick-Fil-A lunch and fantastic holiday gift to our council members! We are thankful to have such fantastic student leaders here in Gordon County Schools! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Gordon County Schools is seeking personnel for several positions for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Our positions offer competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and wonderful work environments with caring teams. For more information or to apply now, visit www.gcbe.org/gcsemployment #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

SYSTEM LEADERSHIP MEETING: Last week, the Gordon County Schools system leadership team members joined together for our monthly leadership meeting. Leaders from across Gordon County Schools joined together to enjoy fellowship, discuss end of semester celebrations at each school, and welcomed some very special guests! Thank you to Joni Harbin, Director of Communications for the Gordon Chamber, and Santa Claus for joining us!! #OneBIGFamily #GoCoSchools #GETGCS

SSAC ACHIEVEMENT: Check out the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council members posing with the Leading Edge Award trophy presented by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) earlier this month! Gordon County Schools (GCS) was recently selected as a recipient of the Leading Edge Award for the innovative Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and the significant positive impact the program has had on the culture, climate, and organizational efficacy of the GCS system. Learn more about the award and the positive changes these leaders have helped to facilitate across Gordon County Schools by visiting www.gcbe.org/news #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

GOOD CITIZEN AWARD: Catherine Hughes, a senior at Gordon Central High School, has been chosen by her teachers and peers to receive the Good Citizen Award sponsored by the Xavier Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition, Hughes competed and won the local level of the optional essay scholarship contest. She will now move on to compete at the district level. The DAR Good Citizens program encourages and rewards the qualities of good citizenship among high school seniors: dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. For more information about the award or the Daughters of the American Revolution organizations, please visit https://xavier.georgiastatedar.org/ #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION: Gordon County Schools Board of Education Co-Chair, Mr. Bobby Hall, was recently recognized for his years of service to Gordon County Schools (GCS) by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA). During the GSBA Winter Conference hosted earlier this month, Mr. Hall was presented with his 25 years of service pin. At the GCS Board of Education meeting on Monday, December 12th, Gordon County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Fraker and Gordon County Board of Education Chairman Mr. Charlie Walraven formally recognized Mr. Hall for his many years of dedicated service to the students and families of Gordon County. Congratulations Mr. Bobby Hall!! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR – BOARD RECOGNITION: The inaugural Gordon County Schools Employee of the Year awards has been established to recognize the efforts of an individual from each Gordon County Schools department who has demonstrated exemplary support and dedication to their service, their department, the school they serve and the students/staff at their school of service. Earlier in December, we recognized the 2022-2023 Gordon County Schools Counselor of the Year. Joining the GCS Board of Education on Monday night to receive recognition for this outstanding achievement was the newly announced recipient of the award, Stacey Cohea! Congratulations Mrs. Cohea!!! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

CELEBRATION: Today, students from the Gordon County College and Career Academy of Design and Advanced Manufacturing competed at SkillsUSA! Jenna McCarty won 1st place in SkillsUSA Region 1 Pin Design. Tommy Roden and Kris Rooks won 2nd and 3rd place in the welding competition. Students that placed in the top 3 at today's event qualified for a spot to compete at State. Congratulations! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL: Gordon County Schools officials, school board members, Gordon Central High cheerleaders, and other guests joined the students and staff of Tolbert Elementary School today in celebration of the school’s designation as an Apple Distinguished School. TES is the only public elementary school in Georgia to receive this recognition two times. Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. They use Apple technology to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal. Tolbert Elementary continues to be recognized for their use of Apple tools and applications to create pathways for students to explore the world in ways they not otherwise experience. Congratulations Tolbert Elementary! We are so incredibly proud of you!!

LOCAL HERO: Fairmount Elementary School student, Lane Parker, became a hero when he recently took control of an unfortunate situation. During Thanksgiving break, he was involved in a house fire. He immediately called 911, calmly told them the needed information, and helped get his younger siblings and an elderly relative out of the structure. Captain Jessie Aliberti, Fire Investigator with Bartow County Fire and Emergency Services, was so impressed with Lane and his quick response that she presented him with a certificate and brought him gift cards for ice cream donated by The Southern Creamery. Way to go Lane!! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TIP OF THE WEEK: Have regular emotional check-ins with your children. During challenging times, children can easily pick up on the stress and worry of adults in their lives. Disruptions to schedules and troubling news stories can leave a child feeling confused and concerned. Set aside time to check in and connect with your child every day. Talk about your day and what will happen tomorrow. Ask them simple questions: “What was the best part of your day?” “Were there any hard parts?” “How did you feel?” “Do you have anything you would like to talk about?” Listen carefully to what your child says so they know their thoughts and emotions are important to you. Visit www.gcbe.org/pfe to learn more about GCS Parent & Family Engagement today. #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

Good Afternoon Gordon County Schools families, We want to make you aware of recent activities and hoaxes that have been rapidly spreading across the state today. There is a new "challenge'' that references threats of violence on high school campuses. There have not been any threats made against our schools in the GCS system. We work closely with local police departments in our school communities to monitor these types of trends to ensure our schools remain safe. Please know, that should a threat of harm be made to any school within our system, it will be taken seriously and all emergency response protocols will be put into place. This “challenge” is yet another example of a national trend that encourages participation in the spread of false or misleading information. These types of messages disrupt the learning in our schools and create fear amongst our GCS community. As a system, we remain committed to the safety and security of all our students and staff. If you become aware of any concerning messages or behavior, please report it to school administrators and local police immediately. Thank you, Gordon County Schools Communications

LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS HOST GEORGIA COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY NETWORK REGIONAL MEETING Gordon County Schools, in partnership with the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce & Calhoun Schools, co-hosted the Georgia College and Career Academy Network (GCCAN) 2022 Northwest College and Career Academy Regional Meeting yesterday at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Nearly 100 local stakeholders, community partners, educators, and district and state leaders were in attendance to discuss local economic development, meeting workforce needs, innovations in industry and education, and highlighting the successes of college and career academies in the region. Gordon County Schools College and Career Academy of Design and Advanced Manufacturing Principal, Leah Newsom, discussed the recent re-branding of the GCS career academy and the expanding opportunities GCS is providing to our students to meet the needs of the growing local workforce. GCS students Hannah Jones and Tyler McGhee shared their experiences as students currently enrolled in the GCS career academy and provided insight as to how the program is helping to shape their career paths after they graduate. Gordon County Schools would like to thank technical college partner, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, and lunch sponsor, Georgia Power, for hosting the event. #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY APPLICATIONS: Gateway Virtual Learning Academy is now accepting applications for the second semester of the 2022-2023. Gateway Virtual Learning Academy is a program designed for high school students who desire a non-traditional route to a high school diploma. The program has both an in-person and online component with flexible scheduling options. All applications are due by December 13, 2022. For more information, visit: https://www.gcbe.org/gatewayacademy To apply today, visit: https://www.gcbe.org/gatewayapplication #GoCoSchools #OneBIGFamily #GETGCS

ICYMI: Gordon County School Nutrition has been serving up some excellent Thanksgiving Meals! Check out some of these wonderful dishes made with love by our nutrition staff! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily #MoreThanJustAMeal

WARRIORS AGAINST CANCER: In October, Gordon Central High School launched the “Warriors Against Cancer” campaign where student athletes and members of the pep squad challenged the student body to raise awareness and money to help the local chemo warriors in our community. Through this campaign, students raised over $1,500 dollars to create care bags for patients undergoing chemotherapy and the medical staff that serve them. On Tuesday, students from GCHS visited AdventHealth Gordon to deliver the care bags to cancer patients and the gifts of appreciation for the health care providers at the Cancer Center. Principal Brian Hall, Athletic Director Billy Shackelford, and students from GCHS toured the AdventHealth Gordon Cancer Center and the AdventHealth Harris Radiation Therapy Center, met the cancer care team, and hand delivered care bags to patients who were undergoing chemotherapy treatments in the infusion center. Way to go Warriors!! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

GC YOUNG FARMERS NEWS: Last night, Gordon County Young Farmers Association hosted a legislator meet and greet at the Gordon County Agricultural Service Center. Senator Chuck Hufstetler, Senator Chuck Payne, and State Representative Matt Barton were present to give updates from the 2022 legislative session and to educate our young agricultural leaders on the legislative process! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily

PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MONTH CONTEST: To celebrate Parent & Family Engagement Month, we posted weekly tips filled with activities and ideas to help parents/guardians to engage with their student(s). The GCS community shared photos and videos of their families engaging in the activities on our social media pages and emailed them to our Communications team. Each post received by the families served as an entry into the drawing of one of three Family Prize Packs! We received many entries, and we are excited to announce the winners: Elias Dallas, Becket Hall, and Kylan Daniel! CONGRATULATIONS to you all! Thank you to everyone that participated in the contest!! #GoCoSchools #GETGCS #OneBIGFamily